How do I know For Sure that things are Not getting better overall?

How do I know for sure that things are Not getting better overall?

Because, although God can turn evil events to enable Good to ensue; God cannot mix evils to make Good. 

For Good to ensue, there must be Good motivations in the mix. 

And Good motivations are spiritual primarily - not material, not this-wordily, not aiming at expediency, not trying to make some people happier, healthier, suffer less... Such are temporary palliatives at most; even when (as very seldom) the stated material intentions are sincere, potentially effective, and actually happen.  

From where we are here-and-now in Western Civilization; we do not even desire that which is Good. 

Our world view is materialistic and nihilistic; we reject God, the spirit, transcendental values, and do not even want what Jesus Christ offers. 

Therefore, from where we are here-and-now in Western Civilization; spiritual rebirth, awakening, repentance (i.e. a turning-around of understanding, belief, motivations) is absolutely necessary before any subsequent Good can ensue. 

Good must be added to the mix, so that God can work with it - can sustain and amplify it. 

This is non-optional: Repentance and embrace of Jesus Christ's gift and offer Must Come First. 

Must means must; so that when repentance and conversion has not happened (as now), we will continue to be motivated by our endemic and pervasive civilizational evil: by our false understanding of reality, and by our wrong intentions about our life and death. 

Good comes only from good; because God needs good to work-from - and work-with. 

And in this world of purpose-less, meaning-less, hedonic materialism: real Good means spiritual-Good. 

If we have not got spiritual Good as our basis and direction - then whatever socio-political-economic reforms/ changes may be imposed with whatever radicalism at whatever level of organization; we shall merely be exchanging one kind of evil for another.