In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the brevity of life and the inevitability of death. He uses the analogy of the four seasons to illustrate the different stages of life: spring represents birth and new beginnings, summer symbolizes growth and strength, autumn signifies decline and fading, and winter represents death. The preacher urges the audience to cherish every moment and not take life for granted. He also highlights the importance of being prepared for death by accepting Jesus Christ as their savior and being born again. The sermon is based on the biblical passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, which states that there is a time for everything, including birth and death.

So, without any further ado, I'm going to ask us to bow for a moment in prayer, please. Our Father, thank you for everyone that has come here tonight. Bless them. Thank you for their longing for God's voice. And take every heart here now, and speak to the depth of every heart. Through a very base and weak and despised man, wash me in the blood. Make me a vessel of meat for the Master's use. Protect us from our enemy, Satan, and his demonic forces. A third of the angels of the entire heaven that were cast out and followed and rebelled against God, and now are desperate demons. We ask for protection by the risen, resurrected power of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the angels of God. Let their swords be drawn to do battle against our enemy and his forces. Keep us safe here tonight, and hover over us and brood over us by the Holy Spirit. Come now, anoint, unctionize, and speak to the depth of every heart. In Jesus the Christ's name. Amen. I believe there's an air-conditioning on. If we want to turn it off, in case those in the back can't hear the old man speaking, I don't know, if you need the air-conditioner, fine, but I would imagine it might just be better not to have that air blowing in a particular spot. And there's good Howard, as usual, being the one who does things immediately, without anyone else having to think. Good Howard. There you are. If the children just behind that little back row there, of those young men there, are making a noise, then someone needs to go and say, well you can just move to the other side, the massive building, you see, not sit at the door and scream, Howard? There you are, I told you, Howard just goes. Now we have to wait for him, because he is the good man that does the recording, and we don't want to upset him now. But that is one good boy, isn't it? Well, the screaming hasn't stopped, but we will trust Howard will move them over to the other side, if they want to be that loud. So the dear boys in the back row there are not listening to the screaming, and all they can remember of the meeting was voices behind them saying, wow, OK, it's nearly quietened. One good look through there, two young men, don't smile, look angry through there and watch what happens. I am used to these things, do it, just turn, you can't know that you're laughing like that. Howard, that was good of you, have they gone just to the other side of the building? Because then we will not have that noise. For all those people there to be disturbed, that they will never come to your church again. Unless those children know they have to move a little bit back there. By the way, no other preacher in the earth would do this to you, so don't worry, you only have to endure this once. And if the boys in the back are disturbed now, there's a few rows in the front that you won't hear a word but me. You come fast, OK, before you have to just listen to that. And I want you to hear this, my boy, badly, gently. Hebrews 9.27, it is appointed, that's a staggering word. It is appointed, God says, unto men once, once to die. That's an appointment. It is appointed unto men once to die. In Ecclesiastes 3.1 we read, to everything, to everything there is a season and a time. To every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. And all the verses that follow are what happens between birth and death to virtually every one of us in this world. The battlefield between God and Satan for the souls of men. To everything there is a season, God says. A season, a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. There are four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. In the spring life appears, the bud of the flower. In the summer it spreads forth its leaves, its petals in full strength and bloom. In the autumn it begins to wilt and fade. In the winter it dies. And God says that of every single thing under heaven. There's a season, there's a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. I read this poem just after I was saved. You live and you love every hour. The future seems so bright and so calm. Then soon, like that sad wilted flower, the world seems to lose all its charm. And soon its past blown away and all that's left are tears and strife. You're alone at the end of day and you wonder what became of life. Every one of you in one moment will have those words echoing in your hearts and minds concerning life. Job 14 verse 1. Man that is born of woman is of few days. Don't doubt that. I have served God for 44 years preaching. I have served God for 46 years since I was saved. It was like yesterday. How it went, what I've got left is so little that it's fearful. The most dreadful shock you will ever encounter in life while you live, sir, is how short life is. If you haven't found that out now, you will find it any moment. Any moment. Even you children sitting here. That is going to be your shock, as it is to all of us. Man that is born of woman, God says, is of few days. And that is the truth. And full of trouble. You won't ever argue about that. Just wait for a moment if you don't know that yet. God says, He cometh forth like a flower. The next verse says, And then is cut down and fleeth as a shadow. It continueth not. In a brief moment, this moment called life. That's all life is, one brief moment. You will all cry. Isaiah 38 verse 12, Mine age is departed. Literally in the Hebrew, my life span is gone. My life is gone. Isaiah 38 verse 12. Psalm 89 verse 48 asks, What man is he that liveth and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Can he deliver his soul from the grave? God says, in Psalm 89 verse 48, There is no man that hath power over the spirit. Neither hath he power in the day of death. Ecclesiastes 8 verse 8. And thou shalt return unto the ground. For out of it was thou taken. For thus thou art. Unto thus shalt thou return. Genesis 3 verse 19. All turn to dust again. Ecclesiastes 3 verse 20. Then man goeth to his long home, God says. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 5. Then man goeth to his long home. The Hebrew is to his eternal home. You are eternal. The soul is eternal. Wherever you go, it will never ever cease. There's no such a thing of a soul being extinguished. Then man goeth to his long home. To his eternal home, literally in the Hebrew. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 5. A beauty shall consume in the grave. Psalm 49 verse 14. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was. And the spirit shall return unto God. Who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12 verse 7. Psalm 90 verse 10. The days of our years are three score years and ten. Sixty plus ten. Seventy years, God says. The United Nations says, depending on where you are in the world, of course, but generally no one. The small percent, I think it is something like 3% of the world's population go beyond the age of 70. That's the general 6 billion that are alive. Many countries, many countries don't go past 34. That's the general age, depending on their poverty. Their lack of privileges. But generally no very small percentage of the entire world's population, according to the United Nations generalizing throughout the world now. The aggregate would be that very few will go past 70. The bulk, 90 something percent, will die before 70 or at 70. But not beyond it. And they weren't referring to the Bible when they made this calculation. The days of our years, God says, are three score years and ten. That's 70. And if, by reason of strength, they be four score years, that's 80. Yet is their strength labor and sorrow, God says. If you go beyond 70, there's sorrow attached to old age. Labor, struggling, difficulties, sorrow. And soon it is cut off and we will fly away. Psalm 90 verse 10. If you go beyond 70, there's labor and sorrow. My mother is 91. She is a remarkable lady. She is one incredibly unique and marvelous human being. Trust me. And totally unique. My darling mother. 91. Well, when she was 70, she was so remarkable, people wouldn't believe it. They just gasped at her. Amazingly, uncannily, strong, healthy, her mind clear and able to do everything. But as the years went by past 70, my darling mother found such difficulties. Suddenly she began to fall. And as the years went by, she fell so badly. Oh, cut her head open, scars, stitching all over. Again and again. And I said, Mother, how can you fall like this? I mean, why didn't you be careful? Her sister-in-law, my daddy's only sister. They were childhood friends, mother and her. Right through to today, both in their 90s. Closest of friends. That's a friend. They were in a supermarket and they had this trolley, you know, that you push things around. And they collided into each other and were both hospitalized. So I said, how could you possibly have collided in a supermarket? You're in hospital. Tried to fly across the country to get, anyway. So, as mother went on, she left this beautiful home, beautiful cottage, daddy provided, lovely for her. But, mother went into a very good home. And it isn't a place that you just throw anybody, it was the best. And that's because my brother was able in many ways, which I'm very grateful for. But, there was mother now. And she fell. Now she fell so badly. And all the bruises and the cuts and the wounds. As the years went by. So I said, listen. Take every single thing out of this room that she could possibly fall on. Take that out. Throw it. Don't let her argue. She's not going to fall anymore. This has to stop. And then they told me, your mother fell so badly. Oh, she's in hospital. I said, mother, there is nothing in that room to fall over. How could you possibly have fell? Wait until you're 90. We'll speak again. Well, I suppose we'll have to. But that's mother. Oh my, she was independent, you know. When she wanted to take away her car, way into her 80s. Mother said, no ways, don't you dare take away my car. I am clear. I am sharp. I said, mother, you are always a danger on the road, let alone now. Please don't argue. Don't you dare. She hid the keys. So while she was asleep, different preachers went to steal her car. And she was so angry, so upset. Oh, for weeks she didn't want to speak to anybody. She would, they took my car. Anyway, we had to. But that's mother. That's mother. She's still wonderful. She's amazing. And I adore her for what she is. By the way, she was the one child of nine who honored her father and mother in a way that I still haven't recovered. The way she cared for her daddy when her mother died. And how she picked up as he fell on the floor, never once raised her voice, cleaned his excrement, urine. She never once argued. She just loved him to death. Wouldn't put him in a hole. I look at her and I remember that verse. This is the first commandment with promise. Honor thy father and thy mother that it may be well with thee and that thy days may be long upon the earth. Oh, I always remember that when I look at mother at 91 and still clear in her mind and loved by many. She's protected now. She hasn't fallen for a long time, by the way. They so watch over her as they took her to different levels of this place. We had to put it. I'm always troubling my brothers the other side of the world, but we had to take care of her. The days of our years are three score years and 10 God says. And if by reason of strength, that means privilege or clean living or using your common sense to keep your health. That gift God gave you not to lose it. If that's somehow because of that, you reach for school years or beyond. Yet their strength is labor and sorrow difficulties. Struggling sorrows like my mother. Even though God honored her. It's not easy. But it will soon be cut off. God says, and we will fly away. Some 90 verse 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Some 39 verse for Lord. Make me to know my end and the measure of my days. What it is that I may know how frail I am. You know, that literally says how short my life is that I have lived. How short my time is. The Hebrew says that I might apply my heart to wisdom. Make me to measure my days. Not to think I've got eternity here, but there is no man. God says that has power over the spirit. Neither has he power in the day of his death. Ecclesiastes 8 verse 8. Voltaire, the European aristocrat. The man was responsible for literally millions of people becoming atheists to this day. You see, it was the age of intellectualism that swept through Europe. He was French. He was aristocracy. And because it was wealth, he was one of the five richest men on earth. They listened to him because of his wealth. Trust me, not just because of his nonsense. Well, Voltaire went through the Bible 28 times from cover to cover. Meticulously weighing every single verse and went to hell. Careful what you do with that book. Careful how you read it or listen to it. But he wanted to disprove the credibility of God. The viability of the concept of God and creation. So he said, if I can prove anything in this Bible is not divinely inspired, there's a mistake just once, that means you can't be sure of anything. So he went through searching. He wrote what is looked upon as the atheist Bible. It's so blasphemous they even have a leather cover with gold. The same, it looks like our Bible, but it's their Bible. The atheists are a religion, trust me, totally. Voltaire, his Bible is today in millions of homes right now. Especially the intellectual. Anything to grasp, to have, to say there's no God and that book is not divinely inspired is full of errors. So he wrote these books with all the mistakes he found, that he said he found. I said to one lady, oh, as she said, this book of Voltaire is my Bible. She said, prove your Bible is full. I said, give it to me and show me one contradiction. I'll show you that everything that man said was totally in darkness and nonsense. There's no such a thing as a contradiction in this book. So she fled weeping after a while when I just took one thing at the fall. But she still held on to his Bible, knowing he was a grave, horrendous, tragic human in denying the existence of God. Voltaire, esteemed, revered by nobility across Europe, then the center of the world, civilized world, suddenly was told by his physician, his team of physicians, but the main physician was the greatest physician on earth because of the money Voltaire gave him. The physician that nobility had had, but Voltaire took him, the best, to watch over him with care. And he was told he had six months to live at the most and that there was no medical cure. So what does this man do? He goes into a total disarray of thought and fear. And he says to this physician in his fear, I will give you half of all that I possess in earth. If you can extend my life another six months, just give me six more months. There must be something that you can with medical advance. Give me. I will make you. He would have been one of the wealthiest men in earth's history. I'm talking about a billionaire. Anything of today's standard is a multi-billionaire of what Voltaire was. That man would have been a billionaire in one moment. But that team of physicians and that particular physician said to Voltaire, there's nothing. There is nothing medical science has to extend your life one moment. At the most it will be six months. Now you want to see who is an atheist? Wait until they face death. Voltaire began to fear facing God that he turned to this day millions away from. All people don't like to hear this about him. Especially these people who go for all this evolution trash. And anything to deny God and the existence of God or facing God to give account. Voltaire began to agonize. Do you know for over one month they could hear his screams. Not so much because of the physical suffering but the men's torment. Crying out they could hear one block from the hospital. Him screaming out, Oh God have mercy on my soul. I am forsaken by God, he said. And he kept crying, I'm forsaken by God. Wait until you face death. Tell me you're an atheist. Wait until you know you're going to die and face God. My uncle said in the war he had many atheists around him until he saw them dying. Lying wounded and dying and they all cried. Every one my uncle, my unsaved uncle said with tears coming down his eyes when we were saved. And he said every single one that said there's no God and were brazen about it and fearsome. And they lay dying without exception. They all cried out to God for mercy. Show me an atheist when you face death, Voltaire. The nurse has written something that's been put into a tract of the last hours of his death how he kept screaming. With such agony and such fear that people were tormented throughout the entire building and up to a block away. People stopped in their masses to hear. They could not believe a man was in such agony of soul. He so feared facing God. But he died and went to hell and he found no peace with God. Don't play the fool with God. Be careful. You might never be able to find him when you decide you want to. If you play the fool with him, no. Be careful. I was preaching in a place called Nizna in the southern part of Africa. A very wealthy, well-to-do, affluent areas. And the doctor came to me in the meeting that night, one night and said, Brother Keith, let me say with you what happened to me today. A man came into my rooms, my doctor's rooms. And I had to tell him after the tests came back and his wife sitting beside him. He had two weeks to live. Two weeks. That can happen. Do you know, Brother Keith, there were no symptoms. Nothing to warn him. Can you just put yourself into a man? It could happen to you. It happened to him. This is not so long ago. You have two weeks at the most. He was so riddled with this. The man went into frenzy, screaming. His wife screaming frantically. And they just broke down sobbing in fear. And he said, Sir, I am a very, very wealthy man. I would make you a very, very wealthy man in one moment. If you can heal me. I don't care medical advance. Medical science is so advancing. Even if I become a guinea pig. Don't tell me there's nothing you can't try. I'll fly to America. I'll do anything. But don't tell me that I have to die in two weeks. I can't die in two weeks. I cannot die. I have to live long. If you can just extend my life a year. If you can extend my life by a few months. I will make you an amazingly rich man. I guarantee you now. I offer it to you now. I looked at the man and I said to him. This doctor said, Sir, there's nothing medical science has that I can offer you to extend your life. I cannot offer you any extension on your life here on earth. But I can offer you the gift of eternal life. But you have to accept it by faith. And you will have eternal life with God. The man said, what are you talking about? And he shared the gospel with his man. The man and his wife fell down on their knees weeping and crying to God to save his soul by the shed blood of Christ and the risen resurrected power of Christ. And as he stood from his knees, the Holy Spirit bore witness with his spirit and he knew he has eternal life. That's how God does it, you know. God knows how to make men who won't go near a church suddenly make decisions from their soul to accept the gift of eternal life. God knows how to do that, sir. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin, the result of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah. It's a gift from God. It is appointed unto men once to die, I started this sermon with. But I didn't end the verse. But after this, the judgment. God said, oh God lied to every soul sitting here and in this city, in this nation, in this world. It is appointed unto men once to die. But after this, the judgment. God says judgment, judgment, judgment. Prepare thyself to meet with thy God. Amos cried in chapter 4 verse 12 of the Holy Bible. Prepare thyself to meet with thy God. Romans 8 verse 1. There is no condemnation. That's judgment. There's no judgment to them which are in Christ Jesus. There's no condemnation. God promises the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. Literally the result, the just reward of continued sin. Once you've heard the gospel, is eternal death, not just physical death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Psalm 49 verse 15. God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave. I will ransom them from the power of the grave. I will redeem them from death. God cried in Hosea 13 verse 14. And everything is Him prophesying of what comes through Christ. 1 Peter 1 verse 18. For as much as ye know, ye were not redeemed, bought, paid for, with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. As of a lamb, without blemish and without spot. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son cleanseth us from all sin. In one moment, 1 John 1 verse 7. Being justified freely by grace through faith in His blood. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly. His faith is counted to him for righteousness. Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ. The righteousness which is of God by faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith, not of works. It's the gift of God. All you have to do is by faith take it. Nothing in my hands I bring simply to the cross. I cling the blood of Jesus Christ. Being justified freely by grace through faith in His blood. Romans 3 verse 24 and 25. They are the last enemy, God says, that shall be destroyed is death. God calls death an enemy. Wait till you face it and you know it is. Even if you're saved, the last enemy, God says, that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 26. We all have to face this enemy. But you can die with God's peace that passes all understanding. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. I love that verse. For some reason, God let me be beside many, many, many people who died as they died. I was called again and again throughout my country and other countries. And I have seen people die without Christ. And I aged. I must be honest. Something in me just was taken. But when I stood with the saints, no matter how much they suffered, I understood this verse. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints, those who prepared to meet with God. There is no fear of judgment. The righteous have hope in His death, God says. Proverbs 14 verse 32. His heart cries, O death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15 verse 55. The sting of death is sin, God says. The fear of death is sin. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 56. We fear death because of our sin. But Hebrews 2 verse 9 tells us that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man. That He would taste death for every man. Hallelujah. And that through death, Hebrews 2 verse 14, even the death of the cross, Philippians 2 verse 8, He might deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. That is fear. Hebrews 2 verse 15. We know that we've passed from death unto life if you're saved. 1 John 3 verse 14 tells if you don't know that you're saved, you're not saved. We know. There's no condemnation to them which in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit if you're saved or God lies. The Spirit itself bears witness with your spirit that we are the sons of God. We have become saved. 1 John 4 verse 16. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself or God lied. That's saving faith. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God hath made him a liar because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that God has given to us eternal life. And this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son has life. And he that is not the Son of God hath not life. These things are written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And that you may believe in the name of the Son of God. If you don't know that you have eternal life, you don't have eternal life. Do you believe Christ would die for you and you do everything God says for you to be appropriated by His death to be justified and saved but then He leaves you to live in fear that's hoping and fears and confusion and doubts? No! We know! We've passed from death unto life this side of heaven because the Spirit he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. The Spirit of self beareth witness. We know! Hallelujah! We've passed from death to life. Revelation 14 verse 13 proclaims blessed are the dead that's a lovely word blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. What a Savior! But death is still the last enemy that all of us would face unless Christ returns in our generation. Death is still the last enemy. I saw that when my father died though he was one of the five godliest men I ever knew in my life. The last enemy is death. 1 Corinthians 15 26 I was standing with a very godly man a very revered man a very strong man a leader of not one mission but three missions in Africa. He was so capable so revered and so incredibly gifted. One look from that man we didn't need a word we just turned and ran. That's how revered he was and feared he was so godly but you didn't play the fool this strong man who kept order. No playing the fool with that man oh suddenly he had a heart attack. I heard I went across Africa I went to find him he was dying. And there this man was lying and the first thing I thought of was I saw this man that we all just obeyed with one look. No one played the fool with that man. He looked totally helpless. I looked at him and thought the only word I could think of was helpless. As he lay dying. That's how you die. And then he said these words to me as he smiled and a little tear trickled down as he said Keith the Bible says the last enemy that we face in this world is death. It is an enemy Keith. It's not easy to die. But this is the good part my boy he said. There's no fear of judgment. There's no fear of any repercussions for eternity for any sin I ever did. It's all washed away by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Death has lost its sting because of that Keith. And he died in peace though it isn't easy to face the sufferings. I was called in Pretoria the capital of southern Africa after I was preaching a young boy walked up to me with his sister's tears in his eyes and said my daddy is dying and my daddy has heard your preaching on all websites and everything and he has asked us to ask if you want to come and pray for him. Sir please don't say no. So I didn't wait to greet the people I said take me now. Call your mother let's get in the car let's go. So we drove we went into the room in this hospital and there was this man oh emphysema and I don't know what the tubes the pipes he was suffocating to get another breath was all man could do he was in pain. And as he saw me he pulled things out they tried to stop him he said don't don't stop me I have to speak. Keith Daniel. They said something's struggling. He said sir I'm not scared of dying. I know I'm safe. I'm scared of living. Please I'm so scared with all the pain and the suffering that I might curse God. Please ask God to take me for all I do that and the suffering. I'm so suffering. So I put my hand on him his head and I said God please take this man and he died. It's an enemy don't doubt it. No matter how saved you are. When you face it it's the last enemy you'll ever face in life but God calls it an enemy. I was with a very godly woman. She had been a missionary in Africa and her husband was dead and she was very elderly and very godly. And she always was there in this town called Port Alfred when I was young preaching she was there always to pray and encourage me at the end of the sermon. So I was in the pulpit and there was a little piece of paper on the pulpit of this very large church building I can't be with you I'm at the end of my life now. I'm in hospital but my heart is with you and I'm praying for you boy just preach faithfully and true no matter what they do to you. So I read this this weak hand writing and here she was Mrs. Cook. What a lovely woman. What a lovely soul. So I went to the hospital the next morning and went and they took me to her room and she was hanging on to life's suffering. Oh I looked at her the last time I'd seen her about two maybe three years before so strong in her old age but suddenly nothing left this frail weak suffering. She smiled a tear came down her face pray for me just pray for me. So I said Lord if it be in thy heart that Mrs. Cook is healed from this sickness and suffering we would be so grateful. And she said no stop. So I opened my eyes tell God you're sorry I don't want to live I'm ready to die don't ask God to extend my life I want to go home just say sorry God and I say it I said sorry God now ask God to let me die right now. Pray that's what I wanted you to pray for that's why I wanted you to come here. I can't suffer anymore ask God to just take me home. Ask him have you ever had to pray for someone to die? And she died three hours later. The Bible speaks of a time when we all become conscious that we are prisoners of the earth. I looked at that verse and I didn't understand it when I was first saved. But after what I've seen in soul upon soul like that and like that man in Victoria's Hospital I know what it is to be a prisoner of this earth. Job says in chapter 3 verse 2 which long for death but it cometh not. Romans 8.22 for we know the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. If you don't know that your head's buried six feet under the ground already in ignorance. You think everybody's out there having a whale of a time? Brother, this is not heaven, this is earth. Thank God. Do you want to see what most of six million people are enduring now, even children in their millions? The sufferings. Whether it's physical torment or suffering from hunger or not, whether it's abuse, torture in homes with evil parents. But there's suffering. We know the whole creation groaneth and travaileth, God says, through Paul, in pain together until now. Not only they, but we ourselves also, God says, which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption. That's the deliverance. That is the redemption of our body to be delivered from this. Oh, it longeth for death, but it cometh not. With prisoners of the earth, at some stage suddenly it's your lot. Don't think this is just writing. This is the handbook for the school of God and every one of you from the moment you're saved are in that school. You have no other handbook. You read it and you face the exams and the last exam you face is death. What you read there, what's out in one moment, you face the exam, you don't read that book for nothing on anything. That God shows you the next moment you face it. You pass or you fail. You fail, you go through it again and again. The one thing you can't go through again and again is death. To everything there's a season. A time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born. And a time to die. To face that last enemy. That will come on every single one of you, the younger especially. Do you know, they tell me from the United Nations surveys, that close to 60% of every death recorded every day across the world over the week, basically this is generally summarized, generally put into a category, are under the age of 25 because of the mass explosion of the world population. People are young everywhere and there are millions far surpassing those that are old. So most don't think you could wait until you face this enemy. You could face it tonight. In this wicked world. A dangerous age. To everything there's a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, God says, is a time to die, to face that last enemy. But, there's one other thing. And the rest of the Bible cries it. There's a time to be born again. There is a time to be born. There is a time you're going to die. But in between there, if this doesn't happen, you face eternal torment and damnation. With the smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever they have no peace day and night. Oh God lied, if that isn't what you face. There is no such a thing as a second chance after death. You can scream to God for mercy for all eternity and it will never end. You will never find mercy. God assures you that if you don't find God now, before death, you face eternal judgment that will never ever. The smoke of their torment ascended up forever. God said, oh God lied. You choose whether you're going to face that or not. Whether you're 16 years old and die tonight. Or 90. There's a time to be born. There's a time to die. But there is a time to be born again. That must happen between those two or you are your own worst enemy. You'll never find anybody on earth that hates you so much or would do more damage to you in the light of eternity or give you more suffering than you yourself chose for yourself. And put upon yourself for eternity. I was preaching in a place called Christmas Rock. A very large rock in the ocean. On Christmas Day, masses of people would go from some part of the eastern province, eastern states of Africa. And I have had tours there, oh so many tours where I speak on one tour for three weeks to many, many thousands of people. 20,000 people. Just going from a little town to the next and then the cities. But oh God's good many come to Christ. But one of the places I am on these tours of the eastern Cape of Africa is Christmas Rock where all the people would flock down on Christmas Day traditionally to this great big rock and spend it on the beach front. Poor and rich alike. Historically anyway. So they call it Christmas Rock. So I preached there before they have one big church. Most of the houses are retired people, normally wealthy. Many are holiday cottages, second homes for people who are wealthy enough to go and have their own home down there and not worry about hotels. So a lot of the houses are empty but a lot are full of retired and well, I preached there. We won't say we had the greatest attendances. Sometimes there are thousands, sometimes there's a ten and small. And at Christmas Rock they decided there, the man and lady that always arranged for me to come and preach there on these tours, that they were going to do something different. So they decided to have what you call a breakfast service. Obviously you know what that is. You advertise come to some meeting, there's a breakfast but you have to listen to the message also. So we got to get the people out somehow so they advertise. Well, how do you say no to breakfast, especially English breakfast. So everyone comes. The whole town of course books and they're coming to the breakfast so they know how to cater for. And so we got the whole town now. It worked. You got to do whatever you can, you know. So you have a breakfast service to get them to come. That place was food. And of course this lovely breakfast was there. Now this man and lady whose home we stayed in, who arranged these meetings for me every time, they're the godliest of the whole town and community, all one fire for God. They have a father way in his 80s, 88, 89 actually. The lady's father of the house. The lady of the house's father. He doesn't speak English. In our country we have what we call Afrikaans. It is a language that is for 400 years to all the immigrants from Europe when they came over to America to escape religious persecution and suffering and starvation and hardships. They also went to Africa at the same time. And this language was derived of French, Dutch, German, mainly, which is called Afrikaans. Millions of blacks and whites speak that as their language of the day. It's their home language now. Across Africa, across southern Africa, right into the middle of Africa. Spoken by millions of people. The Bibles are in Afrikaans, the service, the bulk of things are there in Afrikaans, although English is the communicating of the 19 dialects of South Africa alone. English we do communicate. Everyone can understand it, to a great degree anyway. But not all the old ones can. Nonetheless, this old man, he was sitting there, he didn't understand English. So he thought to himself, well, I don't want to go and hear an Englishman. That's the enemy, through the Boer War, Boer-English War, you know. So, he said, I don't want to go and hear this English, it's all in English, it should be Afrikaans. Why does it matter that a man comes and preaches with Afrikaans? So anyway, here I was, going to speak in English at the breakfast service. But he said, well, everybody's going, I'd better go also. The whole town's going. So I'm going, he says in Afrikaans, now in his mind. So he goes. So he sits down. Now he's not too happy about being there, but the whole town's there, and he has the breakfast and all that. Now I'm to preach. And so I'm preaching through the loudspeaker. Now he thinks to himself, I don't understand anything the man's saying. It's all English. The enemy's language. He was thinking in his heart anyway. A bit angry and put out that he had to be there, to a language he didn't quite understand too much about. And he says, anyway, listen to this Englishman. He's got a voice but you can't hear him, he's speaking so softly. Why doesn't he raise his voice? Of course, you know, he's a bit hard of hearing. A bit angry now. He's really angry with us. But he said, let me behave myself and just sit through it. Everybody's here. Let me just behave myself and get through with this. It's English and he doesn't speak loud enough. Nonetheless, he's sitting there enduring me. Just to behave himself. Now, suddenly, I just suddenly, in a sermon, raised my voice a bit louder than the normal. Okay? As I was speaking about Nicodemus coming to Christ and he didn't know that it was God manifesting the flesh that he was speaking to, but he was inquiring from a heart really thirsting to know the will of God for mankind. And Christ said to him these amazing words which we all know. Nicodemus, except a man be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God. God said. God said. He must be born again. Now, Nicodemus said what you would say. And me, we didn't have a Bible to read or commentaries of this whole chapter three. So we would have said, but how can a man be born again when he's old? He says to Christ. Can a man enter his mother's womb and come out a second time? It was what you would say. I never had that term ever been used in history by any human. The concept was just beyond comprehension. Now Christ said the most amazing words. He said, Nicodemus, how is it that you, an elder, religiously someone really known, the ordained religion of God, don't understand that no one is born a child of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. All you are is a child of your father and mother when you're born. No one is born a child of God. All you are, the date, the time, the place, the moment when you were born, is born a child of your father and mother. You're not born a child of God. No one is. You must be born again to become a child of God. And that's born of the spirit. It's not a physical. A baby can't be born again. It involves the will and faith and the whole exhortation, exposition that John takes of chapter 3 from beginning to end brings in the death of Christ, John 3.16, the judgment of those who reject Christ, deliberately denying light and embracing darkness because of sin, because it demands a turn from sin, not just to be forgiven while you live on. The whole concept is there in that chapter. So, while I'm crying out, you must be born again. Accept a man, be born again. He cannot. God says there's no possibility of him ever going to heaven. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. All you are is a child of your father and mother. You're not born a child of God. You must have a day, a place, a moment where God gave birth by his spirit to you as a result of your faith in the blood of Christ. And you will know if God does that. And so will everyone in the world that knows you from the moment it happens or doesn't happen. Now, the old man, his ears are poof! What's this? So, he goes home. The breakfast is finished. He says to his son-in-law, what's this Englishman saying? What's this? You must be born again. No one's born a child of God. Where does he come from with that? I never heard that. Daddy, we have prayed for you. We've asked God. We've spoken to you for years and years. And all you say is, I've got my church. Leave me. I don't need this. Daddy, we've tried to explain to you all these years. But I'm so glad Daddy's asking. Daddy's never shown any interest. Daddy, right now, I can't speak to you. I've got this breakfast. I can't walk away from all the responsibilities now because I organized it. But when I'm finished with everybody, I'm coming back and I'll straight away take the Bible and I'll show you what he was meaning. I'll take the Afrikaans Bible so that you understand clearly, now that you want to know what it means to be born again. So he goes. Now the man that organized the tour, he was sitting there listening to this old man, speaking in Afrikaans to his son-in-law, now worried, awakened, in one moment, 89. God says, the new birth is like a wind. You don't know where it comes. You just hear the sound. You don't know where it comes from, but you know it's there. So it is with the new birth. Suddenly, awakened. You know God speaking to you. And you're shaken. 89 it can happen. So, this man sitting there listening and seeing his son-in-law walk away, prays, God, send this old uncle to us. So he comes, he says, What is this English man preaching about? You must be born again. Nobody is born a child of God. You have to have another birth. And that is through faith. What is he talking about? I've never heard that in my life. He said, sit down. Uncle, sit down. He took the big Dutch Bible and he starts showing it. And then his son-in-law says, I never knew that. I never knew that. I must be seeking God then. By my faith in his blood to save me that I can become God's child. I wasn't born a child of God. I always thought I was. So on his knees he goes. This missionary who organized the tour is getting on his knees. They cry to God. The old man crying. Nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to the cross. I cling. He says, I've got nothing. My good living, not my religion. I've been to church every Sunday. I was confirmed, but that didn't mean anything. It didn't change my life. Now he stands up. This old man says these words. God has saved me. Did he lie? What has an 89 year old man got to do to lie? They don't lie, man. There's nothing to lie for. You're so set on your way. The bomb won't change you, but God comes. You change. Now the son-in-law comes back and the daughter and he says to him, weeping, I'm born again. And he tells him, I've been praying the man sought me. Oh, to think that the Englishman, the enemy was used by God to solve this. Anyway, the son's crying. The daughter's crying. Daddy. Oh, I didn't know. Daddy, we tried all the years, but you didn't want to listen. You looked upon us as going too far, fanatical. You've got your church. Daddy, this is what we wanted. Oh, praise God. This has happened to you, Daddy. So he's rejoicing. Tears down his face. Then he says, but Mavar is Mama. Where's Mommy? They just put their heads down. Mommy never knew this. I knew Mommy. I was with her when she died. Mommy never knew this. I never knew this. Where's Mommy? I always was waiting to die and to go to be with Mommy. Will I ever see Mommy? This never happened to her. Daddy, you'll never see Mommy ever again in eternity. But you will see us. We'll be there forever and ever with you. The old man fell down on his knees. He just collapsed. And he sobbed and groaned in agony, weeping. Oh, no. So they were all on their knees with their arms around him for a long time, consoling him that the darling of his life he would never see again, and he knew it beyond doubt. So we left. Two years later, we went back to the same town. We heard these things. That old man took his Bible. He highlighted every verse that was sown to him. In the Dutch Bible, the old Afrikaans Bible, it was sown to him to explain to him. And he went to every single home in Christmas Rock. 89. Have you been? Oh, you can't, you say. Every single home that had anyone in. And he wept at the door and said, Listen, you knew my wife. She's gone to hell. And he wept at every door. But I have found what my wife didn't do. Don't you go to hell. Don't die without Christ. You must be born again. Every single home before he died. And when he had finished the last home, it was a matter of weeks, and he was taken to be with Jesus. The wind bloweth, where it listeth, where it wisheth, and thou hearest the sound thereof. The ark is not telleth whence it cometh. With it it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. Brother, sister, you can be sitting in a meeting. You've never once been willing to listen to anybody begging you. You can't understand it. You don't want to. Wow! Awakened. Echapora. Oh, the wind of God comes when you least expect it, young man. But watch out. If it goes, and you say no, it may never come again. You'll be sure of this. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. That's a warning, sir. Isaiah 55 verse 6, Call ye upon him while he's near. You think he's going to come near again? Will he? Now is the acceptable time, God says. Today is the day of salvation. Now I can save you today. If you will harden not your hearts, God says, as in the day of provocation. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Tomorrow may not come for you. I said that to a sixteen-year-old boy fighting to get away from me. In minutes he was dead, chopped in half. While he may be found. Don't run from him. Call ye upon him while he is near. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God promised or God lied. That's how holy he is. He cannot deny himself. If you come the right way, the things of God that are explained, come with the blood of Jesus to be justified in one moment, declared righteous in God's eyes, because by grace he is saved through faith in his blood and his death, because he tasted death for every man, for you. So you come as an offering for your sin with Jesus Christ, death to God. And he says he will in no wise turn away anyone who comes to Jesus Christ. Oh, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way. The unrighteous man his thoughts. And let him return unto the Lord. He will have mercy upon him. To our God for you will abundantly pardon. But seek him while he may be found. Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth and he that seeketh, findeth. To him that knocketh it shall be opened. What more can God say? To make you come in faith that he will not deny you. No, young man, no, old lady, nothing more can God do. You choose hell with both hands, not God. 1 Peter 1.23, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God. That means faith in his promises in this book concerning Jesus Christ's death. For all flesh is as grass. The grass withereth, the flower thereof fadeth away, but the word of God, the word of the Lord, abideth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. God says, Bow your heads, please, Father, give grace in Christ's name. I want while our heads are bowed and have the reverence and respect for God, for his word and for others, to please bow your heads. If anyone in this building has not found the gift of eternal life and they know it and they're not going to take a chance with eternity by walking out of this building without taking that gift with both hands and a whole heart and to be saved by a God who wants it now because tomorrow may never come. You might not even make it to your home, let alone tomorrow. If anyone in this building, young, old, I don't care if you're eighty-nine years old or sixteen or six, I want anyone in this building that needs God to save their souls from what will happen the moment they die judgment if they have not prepared to meet with God. If anyone in this building would face death saved and won't take a chance with the eternal consequences by leaving this building. And they would say with their whole soul and might tonight I seek God to save my soul and I believe he will because of his promises and word. If there's anyone in this building then while our heads are bowed just put your hands up right now and say I want Jesus Christ's salvation tonight and now with my whole heart no matter what it costs me. I'm only asking you once now, you put your hands up and we will pray with those who put their hands. Anyone? Please put your hand up now. No one. Can we all stand please? Can we all bow our heads please? Father take this message to those who are not truly born of God hound them that they will find no peace in sin only horror from this day till they seek God and find peace in Christ. And to everyone that is saved help them not to waste the moment called life but to redeem the time to pray for souls to live for Christ and to bring the lost to Christ with the message they heard tonight unflinchingly, uncompromisingly and with earnest compassion to every soul that they possibly can reach with the truth to warn them to flee from the wrath to come while they can. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen. God bless every one of you and he will the moment you let him if you ever let him.