Death is Not The End
Homegoing Service for Sister Virginia "Jennie Mae" Terry • Sermon • Submitted
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DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER THE PRECIOUS LIFE OF SISTER VIRGINIA TERRY. WE GATHER TOGETHER NOT TO SAY GOODBYE…..BUT TO SAY…. SEE YOU LATER …..WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE THAT SISTER TERRY ENJOYED HERE ON EARTH.
WE THANK YOU FOR EACH PRECIOUS MOMENT AND MEMORY THAT WE HAVE OF HER. WE PRAY THAT YOUR PEACE AND COMFORT WILL BE UPON THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS…AS THE DAYS….WEEKS…..MONTHS AND YEARS GO BY….. WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS THE CHRIST……..AMEN.
GIVING ALL HONOR AND PRAISE TO GOD THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT....
TO ALL CLERGY AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL THAT ARE HERE…WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND.....
AS WE COME TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF SISTER VIRGINIA TERRY…..
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THE CAPLE AND TERRY FAMILY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR MOTHER, SISTER, GRANDMOTHER, LOVED ONE AND FRIEND.
I PRAY THAT YOU ALL HOLD ONTO THE PRECIOUS MEMORIES THAT YOU HAVE OF SISTER TERRY……OR AS MANY OF US LOVINGLY CALLED HER…..’’JENNIE MAE”. ONE OF THE MEMORIES THAT I HAVE OF HER…..IS WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED AS PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH….
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT FOR DESERT IS BANANA PUDDING……AND IT SO HAPPEN THAT ONE OF THE DESERTS THAT SISTER JENNIE MAE KNEW HOW TO MAKE …AND MAKE WELL……..WAS BANANA PUDDING…… LET ME TELL YOU CHURCH….. SHE ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT I HAD ME SOME BANANA PUDDING AFTER A MEAL……AND MAYBE A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE MY MEAL….. ALL I KNOW IS THAT SISTER “JENNIE MAE” WON MY HEART WHEN I HAD HER BANANA PUDDING….
THE VANILLA WAFERS……..THE SWEET TASTE OF THAT BANANA PUDDING…….MMMM….MMMM. THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL MISS…….
SISTER JENNIE MAE WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE AND SHOWED HER LOVE THROUGH HER WORDS…….AND HER DEEDS….. AND I REMEMBER HOW SPECIAL IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO…….IN OCTOBER 2020…..WHEN FBC WAS BLESSED TO BE BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY AND PASS OUT FOOD BOXES….
SISTER “JENNIE MAE” WAS ALWAYS THERE…….ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT LIFT ONE BOX…..HER PRESENCE …..MORAL SUPPORT…..ENCOURAGING AND LOVING SMILE WAS JUST AS HELPFUL AND UPLIFTING THAN THOSE WHO DID THE MANUAL LABOR.
SHE SERVED IS SO MANY CAPACITIES…..FROM PRESIDENT OF THE PASTORS AIDE, USHER, SPIRITUAL CHOIR, LADIES OF VIRTUE AND EXCELLENCE (LOVE) WOMEN’S MINISTRY AND CULINARY MINISTRY.
SHE HAD A SERVANT’S HEART AND A LOVE FOR THE LORD…..
ONE THING THAT I WILL TRULY MISS……IS AFTER I GAVE THE BENEDICTION AT THE END OF SERVICE……I WOULD SAY……”GOD LOVES YOU AND I DO TOO”……AND I WOULD ALWAYS HEAR SISTER “JENNIE MAE” SAY…..WITH HER RASPY VOICE…..”I LOVE YOU TOO PASTOR”.
YOU HAVE MEMORIES OF SISTER JENNIE MAE……HOLD ONTO THEM AND CHERISH THEM….SHE WILL BE MISSED…..BUT AS BELIEVERS…… WE WILL SEE HER AGAIN…..
AS BELIEVERS.....ALTHOUGH WE DIE.....WE ACTUALLY LIVE..... LET US TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN......11TH CHAPTER....VERSES 25 AND 26
Jn 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
I’D LIKE TO USE FOR A TOPIC FROM THIS TEXT.......
DEATH IS NOT THE END
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS……CREATION TEACHES US THAT LIFE CAN PASS THROUGH DIFFERENT FORMS AND THAT LIFE CAN COME OUT OF DEATH.
IF WE LOOK AT THE CATERPILLAR THAT LIVES THE FIRST PART OF ITS LIFE CRAWLING ON THE GROUND….EATING LEAVES….. AFTER FULFILLING ITS COURSE, THE CATERPILLAR CURLS UP AND SEEMINGLY DIES….
THEN OUT OF THAT BODY A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY COMES TO LIFE.
NO LONGER FORCED TO CRAWL ON THE GROUND, IT SPREADS ITS WINGS AND FLIES UPWARDS.
WE ALL….. ALSO SPEND A SHORT TIME ON EARTH AND THEN WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
FOR EACH ONE OF US THERE COMES A MOMENT WHEN TIME CEASES, A MOMENT WHEN WE LEAVE THE BONDS OF TIME AND ENTER ANOTHER WORLD, THE WORLD OF ETERNITY.
DEATH IS OUR UNIVERSAL FATE BECAUSE OF THE SIN OF EVE AND ADAM….. BUT DEATH IS NOT THE END.
DEATH FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE.
DEATH IS LIFE WITH GOD AND ALL THOSE THAT LOVED AND BELIEVED ON GODS SON; JESUS CHRIST.
LIFE IS A JOURNEY. A JOURNEY TO ETERNITY.
DEATH IS THE VEHICLE THAT TAKES US HOME.
WITH SO MANY TROUBLES, PAIN, ANGUISH AND HURT EARTH IS NOT OUR HOME….BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY RESTING PLACE….UNTIL WE GO TO IN GLORY
LET ME REMIND YOU……
SISTER JENNIE MAE OR ANY OF US - AREN’T GOING TO HEAVEN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN GOOD.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAVEN BECAUSE CHRIST DIED ON THAT CROSS FOR US.
SISTER JENNIE MAE BELIEVED IT AND CONFESSED IT AND LIVED IT WITH A CHRISTIAN HEART.
FOR EACH OF US A TIME IS COMING WHEN WE WILL OPEN THE DOOR FROM THIS LIFE AND STEP INTO ETERNITY.
JESUS CHRIST OPENED THE “DOOR TO ETERNITY” WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS.
WHEN WE PICK THE DOOR TO HEAVEN WE ENTER THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH AND SLEEP INTO THE ARMS OF JESUS.
NOW I KNOW…..IT IS HARD TO REJOICE…. BECAUSE OUR HEARTS MISS HER PHYSICAL PRESENCE HERE WITH US…..
BUT WE SHOULD REJOICE ….. BECAUSE SISTER JENNIE MAE ACCEPTED CHRIST IN THIS LIFE…..AND NOW SHE IS GLORY WITH THE SAVIOR.
SHE PROCLAIMED PUBLICLY HOW SHE LOVED THE LORD.
SISTER JENNIE MAE FACED THE TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS AND VICTORIES OF THIS WORLD AND NOW IS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
SHE IS SET FREE!
WE SHOULD REJOICE THAT SHE NOW KNOWS GOD PERFECTLY….. TO BEHOLD THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE AND TO THANK HIM FOR SAVING HER AND BRINGING HER HOME…..
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER AS WE LOOK TO THE DAYS AHEAD.
THE GRIEF WE FEEL AND ALL THE EMOTIONS THAT GO WITH THAT GRIEF SHOULD DRAW US CLOSER TO CHRIST.
GOD KNOWS ABOUT EVERY BREATH WE TAKE, EVERY PAIN WE ENDURE, AND EVERY GROAN WE UTTER.
TODAY, I CAN TELL YOU WITH CONFIDENCE THAT GOD NOT ONLY KNOWS YOUR PAIN BUT HE UNDERSTANDS BECAUSE HE HAS EXPERIENCED IT THROUGH JESUS.
GOD THE FATHER KNOWS YOUR GRIEF AND SHARES YOUR PAIN.
THE LORD IS HERE WITH US AND HAS COME ALONGSIDE YOU TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
I KNOW THAT JESUS WANTS EVERYONE HERE TO COME AND LIVE WITH HIM IN HIS HEAVENLY HOME.
LOOK AT OUR TEXT THIS AFTERNOON…..
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIE, WILL LIVE....
HE IS THE RESURRECTION.
THAT WORD MEANS “ALIVE AGAIN.”
THAT IS, EVEN WHEN LIFE HITS US HARD, WE CAN TRUST IN JESUS, BECAUSE HE HAS THE POWER TO MAKE US ALIVE AGAIN.
BY SAYING THAT HE WAS THE RESURRECTION HE MEANT HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVING DEATH.
JESUS IS OUR HOPE. HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE OF SURVIVING DEATH, BECAUSE HE IS IN CONTROL OVER IT.
BY SAYING HE WAS THE LIFE, HE MEANT THAT HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE OF GETTING THROUGH OUR DAYS NOW.
JESUS TELLS US IN JN 10:10
John 10:10 (NRSV)
10 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
HE IS THE HOPE FOR TOMORROW AND THE STRENGTH FOR TODAY.
HE WILL HELP US SURVIVE DEATH, AND HE WILL HELP US SURVIVE LIFE AS WELL.
JESUS WENT ON..... HE SAID “THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIE, WILL LIVE.”
FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN JESUS…..THAT HE IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS…..EVEN THOUGH OUR EARTHLY LIFE COMES TO AN END…..AND OUR PHYSICAL BODIES DIE…..WE HAVE THE PROMISE THAT WE INDEED WILL LIVE….
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….OUR EARTHLY BODY WILL DIE ONE DAY……BUT FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE ON JESUS….DEATH IS NOT THE END.
WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT ALTHOUGH WE SEE SISTER JENNIE MAE’S EARTHLY BODY……..LAYING BEFORE US……. SHE HAS LIFE!! SHE IS LIVING WITH THE KING……SHE IS IN GLORY WITH THE SAVIOR…….SHE IS MADE NEW….IN HER NEW BODY….WITH NO PAIN….NO SORROW…..NO SUFFERING……. SHE HAS LIFE……….DEATH IS NOT THE END.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO PUT YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS AS THE SAVIOR OF YOUR LIFE.
JESUS SAID……
I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST.
I DIED, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVER MORE, AND I HOLD THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH.
BECAUSE I LIVE, YOU SHALL ALSO LIVE.”
THOUGH WE ARE ASSURED THAT SISTER JENNIE MAE IS WITH JESUS ….THERE IS A VACANCY THAT SHE LEAVES IN HEARTS OF THE LIVES OF THOSE LEFT BEHIND.
YOU AND I CAN KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT TODAY SISTER JENNIE MAE IS SINGING IN THAT HEAVENLY CHOIR.....AND SHE REJOICES AND WORSHIPS IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.
SHE RECEIVED NEW LIFE IN HER BODY....
GOD HAS SURELY MADE ALL THINGS NEW IN HER, JUST AS HE WILL DO IN ALL OF US WHO TRUST IN HIM.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS....IT’S MY DESIRE TO ENCOURAGE YOU WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT, NOT ONLY HAS YOUR MOTHER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND YOUR FRIEND RECEIVED ALL OF THESE NEW THINGS, YOU TOO CAN RECEIVE THEM, IF YOU RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
DEATH IS NOT THE END
LET THIS TIME OF REMEMBERING HER…..BECOME ALSO A TIME OF REFLECTION ON YOUR OWN LIFE AND ALLOW THE LORD TO SPEAK TO YOUR HEART.
YOU SEE....SISTER JENNIE MAE IS ALREADY IN GLORY WITH JESUS.....BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON’T KNOW THE LORD AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR......WHILE YOU LIFE HERE ON THIS EARTH......YOU CAN ACCEPT HIM…AND HAVE LIFE ETERNALLY.....
DEATH IS NOT THE END
Proverbs 27:1
NRSV
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
PROVERBS 27:1
IT REMINDS US TO NOT BOAST ABOUT TOMORROW BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING.
SOME PEOPLE BRAG ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO AND THEY NEVER DO ANYTHING. “ONE OF THESE DAYS I’M GOING TO DO THIS.” “I’LL DO THAT LATER.” BUT, LATER MAY NEVER COME.
THIS PASSAGE GIVES US TWO REASONS WHY WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE THE DAY FOR GRANTED.
· LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE. WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT, MUCH LESS NEXT WEEK OR NEXT YEAR.
THE TRUTH IS THAT NO ONE CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE.
· LIFE IS BRIEF. OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN VANISHES.
OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A MIST IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….. LIFE IS TOO UNPREDICTABLE AND TOO BRIEF TO LIVE IT WITHOUT GOD AT THE CENTER.
WE MAY COUNT OUR LIVES IN YEARS BUT GOD TELLS US IN
PSALM 90:12
TO NUMBER OUR DAYS.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT ALL OF US ARE JUST ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM ETERNITY.
IN
1 SAMUEL 20:3
, DAVID SAID, “YET AS SURELY AS THE LORD LIVES AND AS YOU LIVE, THERE IS ONLY A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH.”
OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A VAPOR – HERE ONE MINUTE AND GONE THE NEXT.
DECIDE TODAY TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS.
JESUS SAID, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES.” DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
I KNOW SISTER JENNIE MAE BELIEVED IT….SHE CONFESSED IT AND LIVED IT……WE DON’T HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT HER ETERNITY…..BECAUSE SHE IS WITH CHRIST…..
BUT THE QUESTION IS….THAT JESUS POSES TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US…….
“WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES.” DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS TODAY? DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR?
DEATH IS NOT THE END FOR THE BELIEVER….
HE DIED ON CALVARY....THAT WE MAY HAVE LIFE.
DEATH IS NOT THE END
HE IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
DEATH IS NOT THE END
HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE
DEATH IS NOT THE END
HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD....WHOEVER FOLLOWS HIM WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS…BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE
DEATH IS NOT THE END
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST
DEATH IS NOT THE END
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE......
DEATH IS NOT THE END
SISTER JENNIE MAE LIVES.......
SHE LIVES.....SHE LIVES......
DEATH IS NOT THE END