Once there was a very rich man that owned some mines. Many people worked for him. The people were poor and the rich man noticed it. He had five sons and told them one morning to take food for the people at the mines. In the bags he placed hammers and notes. Many only ate the food, and used the hammers for firewood. Those that read the notes, saw that the owner requested them to bring their hammers to the mine the following morning at 5am. Here the rich man had arranged that precious stones be given to those that came to sustain them for the rest of their lives. Those that disregarded his request arrived too late. They had remorse, but it was still too late.

So too, many want to serve the Lord, but when their friends are there, they follow their friends. God's hammer is only a symbol of the work God has already done.

Some sniff glue or smoke dagga, and live immorally. Later you see them destroyed by drugs and AIDS. However, the one that will be saved is the one that enters into the narrow gate. Even your family and friends might turn against you. This requires self-denial and perseverance.

Young people, are you here to hear God's word or to see the girls? Are you only interested in fashion and the opposite sex? Only if you persevere to follow God's way will you be able to be free. This is the time that you must make every effort to enter through the narrow gate.

Consider the example of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The King wanted strong, handsome, intelligent young men. Satan wanted them to fall when the king offered them meet and wine but they asked for vegetables. They persevered through many trials and conquered in the end.

God is alive and can save. Last year I became very ill. When the doctor examined me he was shocked and I had to go for blood tests. The test came back and the doctors said I was diagnosed with cancer in a very advanced stage. They then made an emergency appointment at the specialist. They wanted to operate on me, but my body was too weak. They gave me two more days to live. Then, although I was very weak, I opened the Bible and read Psalm 23, which encouraged me. Many visited and phoned me. One of the brothers told me - "you can't die now, you still have to preach the Gospel."

One day I experienced the most terrible pain as if my limbs were cut off. As I experienced this, I heard something like an explosion. I saw many people on a broad way, and a few on a narrow way. Then I saw a small group of people on the narrow way weeping and looking up. As I ran towards them, I saw a man that pitied this group of people. The same person then told me to return for the sake of those weeping. Then I heard a second explosion. As I heard this, I woke in my bed. I immediately shared my experience to the brothers that were around me. When the doctors came to examine me, they could not find the tumour in my stomach anymore. They could not understand what had happened. An old professor, examining the two sets of X-rays (one with the tumour of a few days ago, and the new one with no tumour), said that he's seen many things in his life, but never something like this. The brothers that were with me then shared with Him God's working at KwaSizabantu since the revival started in 1966. Once again I experienced God's unfailing love towards those that placed all on the altar for His sake.

May today also be the day you surrender to Christ fully