Who Will be Next? 8-24-25

Last week and on up until this week, there were numerous deaths of people I knew personally, a couple of tenants where I live lost family members; three deacons, one was the brother of a friend; one was a deacon from the same church where we were  members in the 1990’s in Camden and another  deacon in the former church in Greensboro. Two days ago, there was news about another tenant, whose brother had passed.

I don’t know about you but as for me it is thought provoking. People, we as the body of Christ are so divided, that it I a shame!  I don’t know everything; I make mistakes; but I am willing to correct whatever was wrong so people will not be misled. For professed born again believers to separate themselves from other Christians for any reason that is not godly, shows that they are immature.

And, if they searched the scriptures like I do rather than go according to the traditions and doctrines of other people, and be open to truth, they would not separate themselves from others and be in their own ungodly clique. I will boldly tell anybody that I study, search the scriptures, and do not lean to my own understanding.

That’s why my subtitle is: BIBLICAL Facts - Not Opinions! My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6). I am not going to write something that is not understandable to me first.

My deceased brother was the best teacher I have known during my forty three years of walking with Christ, and regardless of how knowledgeable he was, I would search the Scriptures for myself (Acts 17:11). I am going to brag on God because He feels the same way about me and others who search the scriptures and rightly divide them (2 Timothy 2:15).

Division is ungodly and it can also lead to sickness and early death. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [dead].  For if we judge ourselves, we would not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:29-31). Christ was already divided for us; His body was broken (Matthew 26:26-28) so why are we tearing each other apart.

It is a shame for Christians to be divided – what kind of light are we to others? For those who do not agree with what the Spirit gives me to write, I will not stop writing or be intimidated because someone does not agree or try to shoot me down. God’s Word will not return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11). It will reach those whose hearts are open the TRUTH.

Saturday (yesterday) I felt like my presence at a funeral service would be an encouragement in supporting the pastor, because he was going minister to a family that he did not know, by serving them in the fullest capacity. Being that the family was African American, I also felt that it would be good if I supported the pastor and the family, whom I didn’t know either. I greeted people and let them know that it was the church that I attended.

Afterwards, while sitting in the pew, this person walked down the aisle and I recognized him, called his name, he came back and oh’ what a joy it was to see a good friend that I had not seen in about twelve years. He sat down and as we were exchanging numbers, his number popped up on my phone. His nephew came and asked him to go and sit with the family and I was asked to go and sit with the family too, but I politely declined.

It was shared with the pastor had God had set the whole thing up for a friend and I to reunite. My niece who has known him longer than me, had been wondering what was going on with our friend. And then- God divinely set it up for us to meet at his nephew’s funeral. Before all this happened, I had intended to leave following the service. But I stayed for the service and the fellowship meal.

Look at what God did;  He is absolutely amazing! My advice to the believers, let this different flavor message be meat for your soul, digest it and get things right-  Time out for division in the body of Christ (Church of God). Time to get right with God; “Who will be next?” "This may be the last time for some of us" Get right with God; you may be next in line.

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org