In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of living wisely and making the most of our time in a world filled with evil. He highlights the issue of legalized prostitution and the concern it raises for parents, particularly in protecting their children. The preacher then speaks about the deceased brother, praising his character and faithfulness. He emphasizes that the brother never complained or murmured, even in difficult times, and stood firm in his faith until his dying day. The sermon concludes with a reminder that we should always strive to speak the truth and avoid lies.

Let's now get into our Bible text, Ephesians chapter 5, from verse 15. We will read from verse 15, although my emphasis is from 16. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Making the most of your time because the days are evil. Redeem the time for the days are evil. Like I was mentioning about wickedness of the times and mentioning that particular problem in South Africa, some have said we were struggling for freedom, but was it freedom to bring in legalized prostitution for our children? If you have a daughter, parents are nervous because they don't know whether the child will be protected instead of being molested, you need to seek ways to help the child. Today is a funeral, it is the remembrance and this is just the body of our brother in Christ. Brother Kumalo, call him brother, from early days when the Holy Spirit came down, he was a little boy then. At that time already he said I want to preach the gospel and be with you that we would propagate the gospel. He would take his own initiative and for instance clean the yard. If we are going to another place to preach he would arrange things there. He was astonishing being able to do things spontaneously on his own initiative. I thought back, has there ever been a time when this brother had ever come complaining and moaning and groaning? I don't remember even a single incident, never having to rebuke him and say look don't do it like this or don't do this. I know that at funerals that it is... Now I know that at funerals it is common that they speak so nicely about the deceased and you find churches become houses of lies and Pharisees because of the lies spoken about the deceased. Now the son wasn't at home but was far away at work. Now this incident that I'm going to relate, this young man was told that the funeral of his father was going to be on a certain day. There were two churches in that city or town and he walked into the funeral, it was late already. He walked into the funeral, it was late already. The longer he sat in this church the more uncomfortable he felt and the more nice things said by the preacher about his father. He thought it cannot be the same man, I knew my father as a drunken and angry person when I was unfaithful to my mother. They speak about the deceased. And so he left the church to go to the other church, he thought maybe my father is being buried elsewhere because he didn't know his father as a holy man. Now remember the person who dies in his wickedness goes to hell, he has no escape out of there, he can't come back to earth. Like the rich man in hell the Lord spoke of him wanting to send Lazarus to his brothers but no the dead are in hell and remain there. No wickedness enters into heaven no matter how small it might seem. Now I don't speak lies and I don't want to speak anything untruthful about this brother, this deceased brother. I don't want to speak lies and I don't want to speak anything untruthful about this brother, this deceased brother. Now days are not the same. Days are not always warm, there are also cold days, windy days and days where you have to say Lord hold me, keep me. Be careful. And so Same with grandparents. Be careful that you don't have a wrong place pity on your grandchildren. If that child has done wrong and the parents are punishing it, be careful lest you put your sympathy in the wrong place. And you be careful. And so don't side with your children, your mother, for instance, against your own husband and you go off and suffer terrible consequences that you've never imagined because you side with your children in their sin. Don't, as a child, don't rebel against your parents. Don't go off in a direction where you find your parent or your father has passed away and you've followed the path of drunkenness, you've never come to your parent and asked for forgiveness. And remember, don't think that you're being very expensive at a funeral and dishing out the best coffin and flowers. And speaking nice words about your parent will be the answer. No, your parent, this is just the corpse of your parent. They are either in heaven or hell. Don't try and think that you can make it up when they're dead. And so don't side with your children, your mother, for instance, against your own husband and you go off and suffer terrible consequences that you've never imagined. And so don't side with your children, your mother, for instance, against your parent. They are either in heaven or hell. Don't try and think that you can make it up when they're dead. The son of Mrs. Smelane Ndandi, they were at the funeral yesterday. He was severely injured in a car accident. Young people drive fast or they do things that get themselves injured or killed. His back was broken and he died of his injuries in a bigger hospital. And I said, well, thank God for that. Dry up your tears. He is with the Lord, even if he received mercy only at the end, like the thief on the cross. These days, this brother who has passed away, The brother whom we're burying today was very familiar with walking with the Lord, staying away from sin, confessing his sin when he was burdened. And even in his last days, he called for one of our brothers and to speak with him, to ask for prayer. That was his life, isn't it? That is a wonderful life, walking the way of holiness. I'm coming to an end. The wife of the brother has passed away. There she is. You continue in this way. Persevere. Some widows go off the way when their husbands die. Now I say to you and also to any other widows or widowers, cling to the Lord. Be like the man in the Bible who cried out, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. Even when others tried to quieten him, he cried out all the more for mercy, so that he would find the Lord.