Funeral of Moses Sibisi

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Closing
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Much has been said about Mr Sibisi. He was our brother. I am a son-in-law in the Sibisi family. I really love the Sibisis dearly. They are a humble, respectful and loving family. Apart from the fact that I was his brother-in-law, we were close and stood together as brothers in the Lord. He really loved God. It was not lip service but his life showed it. It is not that he never faced difficulties but he always knew where he had to go and what he had to do in such situations. He said that he loved his church and his minister, referring to Reverend Stegen. Reverend Stegen is bereaved by his passing. He said, “Moses, is it him? What did he do that he deserved to be killed?” It troubled him very much. I doubt there is anyone who is not affected by his death. The criminals who are guilty for his death are possibly in the audience today. There have been no arrests yet which means that the criminals have got off scot free and there is a good chance that the same thing may happen to others.

Thank you, Nkosi. (Moses’ oldest son) I listened attentively to your words. Thank you that you chose to stay with your parents. After school you studied, obtained your degree and thereafter stayed with your parents and supported them. We notice many of your father’s characteristics in you. We see the same humility. I know how much he loved you and wished the best for you and for his whole family and all our children.  His desire was that they would find what he had received. You can have everything this world offers but unless you have the Lord, it is all in vain. You can have all this world has to offer but unless you have the Son of Man, nobody is to be pitied more than you. Some only do the right things when they live before you but he who has met with God, lives the right life all the time.

Mrs Sibisi, I honour you. We saw your genuine and pure love for your husband. If it had been possible you would have slept in the ICU. We saw it from the very first day, in the early hours of the morning, while we waited to hear whether the operation was successful or not. Mrs Sibisi was strong and supportive. But there was a time when it was too much even for her. She fell on her knees and prayed for the criminals who shot her husband saying, “Lord who am I that I should not forgive them? If I see what they did to you on the cross and you forgave them, who am I that I cannot say that?”

There are people here whose hearts are filled with grudges and hatred. They are planning revenge. A person who tries to take revenge will die quickly. I saw that pure love in her that does not grow old. It remains fresh to the end, as she vowed on her wedding day. God strengthened her and she remained strong throughout. We trust that the others will support you by God’s grace in the future. If there is anyone who has information about the perpetrators we request that you come forward with it. We are hurt as a family. Who would do such a thing to Mr Sibisi, a man who would not even hurt a fly?

Mr Sibisi would never allow anything to be between him and God. He kept short accounts with God. As soon as he could he put something right because he said he did not know how or when he would die. He loved his Master. He was the Chairman of Radio Khwezi Board. He was active in Masibumbane, the listener’s club, and he was also a director of Ekhamanzi Springs.

Why is it that good people of the calibre of Mr Sibisi die, why not those living worthless lives? These are man’s thoughts. God’s ways and His thoughts are not like ours. Those criminals still have an opportunity to repent and experience eternal life. If you are still living in a lost state, you are wasting your time and your life. You will be lost here and in eternity. Turn to God.

Mr Heino Stegen from Mtunzini played a great role in bringing the gospel into the Sibisi family. Thank you Uncle Heino for your sacrifice and input. We know how you visited the Sibisis when they were at university until they felt the call into the ministry. Mr Sibisi was faithful to the end. When some people reach heaven they will be shown the fruit of their labour.

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelations 7:13 – 17

Who are those dressed in white robes? Why are they dressed in such a peculiar manner? Why are they dressed in white robes? Where do they come from and in what country do they live? They come from the same world we come from. You can see for yourself that there is nothing good in this world. I am a South African citizen but I feel like a stranger. I am not at ease in this country. I wonder who will take my life. Will it be one who is the same as me? People kill each other, there is no peace. We constantly hear heart-breaking news. Blessed are those of whom it will be said, even though they came from this world of heartache and sin, they did not want to defile themselves. They kept themselves pure from sin.

To the Sibisi family, let us leave this tragedy in God’s hands. If you have bitterness and grudges in your heart, you will be harmed. It will only destroy you. Leave the murderers in God’s hands. We pray that God will work in their lives so that they will repent before death. In this world we hate one another. As you are seated here, how many people do you hate? In families there are people who hate each other. When something bad happens, family members suspect each other because they do not trust each other.

Even though the people came out of great tribulation, they washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. Take something, dip it into red blood and see whether it will come out clean. Take something which is pitch black, soak it in red blood and see whether it will come out snow white. If you put something that is filthy into red blood, will it come out clean? I don’t think so. But take sin, black and vile, and put it in the blood of the Lord Jesus and see what happens. No matter how you have sinned or how far you have drifted, come to the Lord Jesus, to His blood, there is hope for you. He says, “My child, I am waiting for you to come and be cleansed.” If you have never experienced that forgiveness, may you today experience the assurance of cleansing through Jesus Christ. This is what our brother lived for. When those fatal shot rang out he was busy with that.

No matter your age, you are invited to come and experience this great mercy, the wonder of being cleansed, then you can stand boldly for Him. How long will you continue with your burden? You have possibly been to every witch and witchdoctor there is. If you have obtained that robe, and then you pass from this world, how wonderful it is going to be: They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

So do not be deceived by fairy tales. Mr Sibisi has passed from this world and he is resting from the turmoil and heartache of the world. Let me inform you that he will not return because he is hungry or thirsty. They will never hunger or thirst. They are well taken care of. Even if we ask Mr Sibisi to return to earth for a short while, he would say never. He has great joy in heaven, far greater than any joy on earth. No sin will enter – no matter how slight, such as criticism or finding fault – will not enter heaven. We take heaven lightly. The way we see things are so human. It is not your human goodness and the good things you have done that will count for anything, only God’s mercy. Ask God to have mercy on you. The eternal Lamb Himself will take care of them. What is keeping you back?

Let us persevere and enter through the narrow gate. There is a gate to heaven and it is very narrow. The city is surrounded by a wall and there are entrances. Angels stand at the entrances with flashing swords. Unless you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb you will not be granted entrance. May God grant that we will endure to the end, not that we stumble and draw back. We should not speak much but our deeds should confirm what we say.

By God’s grace I long to be in that city that is not built by human hands but by God Himself. Longing will not get me there. My actions should be in accordance with what I long for. I wish the same for you.

Mr Heino Stegen

I fail to express my feelings. God has granted us such a wonderful privilege to live for Him in this world and to belong to Him. He has left us a word in the Bible that says, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” We still strive for position, money and possessions in this world but God says concerning our brother Sibisi – death is gain. God says, “I do good to him.”