Betty Stepp - 08/02/2025

Intro

Welcome:

Welcome family, friends and church family…

Today we honor a faithful lady who endured many things throughout her life…

Betty Stepp was born on February 1st, 1933

She was a mother, grandmother and most importantly, a faithful Christian

Ms. Betty died on July the 14th, 2025 at 92 years old

The one character trait that sticks out in my mind when I think of Ms. Betty is faithfulness…

She was always faithful to church and the activities of the church whenever her health allowed her to be…

She was always quietly sitting in the corner…

The only request she ever would make is prayer for her family…

Days before her passing I sat and spoke with her for a while…

I asked her if she was okay with dying and her response was, “Whatever the Lord’s will is.”

I want to talk with you on that word of “Faithfulness” for just a few moments in honor of the faithfulness Ms. Betty exhibited in her life…

<<<PRAY>>>

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

As we look across this cemetery, we are reminded of some realities:

1. The Reality of Life

On these gravestones, you will typically find a marker that states the subjects name followed by a date…

The first date on that marker is when life began…

James 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Life is short…

“I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at the things that don’t matter.” William Carey 

“Identify the important and act with a sense of urgency.” Unknown 

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2. The Reality of the Dash

The second marker on the tombstone next to the marker is typically a dash…

That dash is the time spent from birth to death…

The question does not necessarily rest in the first date or the second date, but what truly matters is what takes place in the dash between the dates…

Colossians 3:22–23 KJV 1900

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

People will attempt to be known for something…

But the message that speaks louder and longer after your death are the decisions you make during your dash…

Two little lines I heard one day,

Travelling along life’s busy way,

Bringing conviction to my heart and from my mind, would not depart…

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last."

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done,

Then in that day my Lord to meet,

and stand before His judgement seat,

Only one life, the still small voice

Gently pleads for a better choice,

Bidding my selfish aims to leave,

and to God’s Holy will to cleave,

Only one life, a few brief years,

each with its burdens, hopes and tears,

Each with its days I must fulfill,

Living for self or in His will

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When satan would a victory score,

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say,

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last."

Give me Father a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow, Thy Word to keep,

Faithful and true, what e’re the strife,

Pleasing thee in my daily life

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

and from the world now let me turn,

Living for thee and thee alone,

Brining thee pleasure, on thy throne

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say, “thy will be done”

and when at last I hear the call,

I know I’ll say, twas worth it all

In the 13 years that God gave me the privilege to know Ms. Betty, I find that through all of the troubles and trials, she was faithful to church…

I hope that the faithful life of Betty Stepp would express to you the God she served…

God is faithful to us, we should be faithful to Him…

3. The Reality of Death

Hebrews 9:27 KJV 1900

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 KJV 1900

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die;

Genesis 3:19 KJV 1900

19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Not everything is guaranteed, but death is…

This is a truth that Ms. Better understood…

“Whatever the Lord’s will is.” - she was okay with it, even if it meant death…

Why? Because she knew there was so much more to life than death…

4. The Reality of Heaven

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

a.) God tells us not to sorrow for the dead as those who have no hope

b.) IF we believe that Jesus died and rose again

c.) Then we shall be with Christ in Heaven

d.) This is comfort to us

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We see the reality of Heaven, but not all will go there….

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The passage in I Thessalonians says, “IF we believe that Jesus died and rose again”…

Salvation through Jesus Christ is simple…

Admit your a sinner

2. Believe in Jesus Christ and His payment for your sins

3. Repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior

The Reality of Life - it’s short

The Reality of the Dash - it’s important

The Reality of Death - it’s guaranteed

The Reality of Heaven - it could be for you