Donna Braddock Funeral

Death is not what God intended for this world.

Genesis 2:16–17 “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.””

We were meant to live forever. We were created perfect and good. But God gave Adam a decision leave the tree alone or eat from it.

Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan, convinced that God was holding something back from them, so they ate from the tree. And the only thing that God was holding back from them was sin and shame. The only thing God was holding back from them was evil.

They ate and they knew sin…they knew evil…and one day they would know death…

Death is a reminder to us all that this world is broken because of sin. All that Mrs. Donna struggled with these last four years are a reminder that this body is not what it was supposed to be. In the beginning it wasn’t supposed to get sick…it wasn’t supposed to get old…it wasn’t supposed to hurt…it wasn’t supposed to die.

God didn’t leave us alone in our sin.

Genesis 3:15 “15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

In the very beginning of sin cursing our bodies, God made a promise to the one who deceived us. “I’m coming for you. You did not completely ruin My plan. I knew this was going to happen and I already have a plan to restore my creation and defeat you.”

John 3:16–17 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

God made a way through Jesus for us to be saved from our sin. Jesus came and was sinless. He lived a perfect life. And then gave up His perfect life and suffered under the condemnation of our sinful one.

The Bible tells us that the whole time Jesus was here, Satan had no clue what God was up to.

1 Corinthians 2:8 “8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Satan and his demons are the rulers of that age and they didn’t know.

Satan didn’t even realize that he had played right into God’s hand until Jesus uttered those famous words, “It is finished!”

And in that moment death was undone.

From that point on, those who lived and believed in Jesus would never die.

This past Wednesday, Mrs. Donna did not die, she passed from this world of pain and sin into the presence of God where there is no pain, no sin, no struggling for air.

This promise is for all who believe.

You can have the same hope that Mrs. Donna had.

All that is required is for you to place your faith in Jesus.

Let me explain. This is not a mere acknowledgment that He exists. This is you realizing that you have sinned against God by living against His will and His word.

Then you learn that Jesus came to save you from that sin. He paid the price for it. So you place your faith in His death on the cross and punishment for your sin.

And you do all of this in order that you may surrender your life to Him, placing your faith in Him. Believing that how He says you should live is the best way for you to live.

All of this is conditional. Just like in the garden.

If you eat from the tree, if you go against my will, you will die.

If you believe in Jesus, if you surrender your life to Him, you will live.

Are you surrendered to Christ or surrendered to sin?

Mrs. Donna was surrendered to Christ. So let me remind you once more that while this hurts you. Death for her was a loving gift from God.

As He came into that room to take her, He told her that her struggling was over.

She is breathing like she has never breathed before.

I preach the way that I do today because I know that she wants all of you to join her one day.

If you are believing and following Jesus. Let me comfort you with the promise that the same God who gave her relief from all of the pain of this world, can comfort you in the pain that you feel today.

He is here. He is with you. And He always will be. And if you trust Him, You will be with Him one day. And you will see Mrs. Donna again too.