May you receive Mike into your arms based on your Son's sacrifice in Love. May you comfort those Mike left behind, particularly his wife Sonia. May Sonia be ministered to by you in a special way now and in the coming years. Lord we thank you for your brilliant servant Mike and all the things he has taught us about living and dying well serving you.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen
****
This week, Wednesday, July 19th, 2017, just a little after noon, the Mad Theologian's faith became sight.
Mike Erich passed away at home after a long battle with cancer with his wife at his side. Mike was a brilliant man that will truly be missed at home, at church, and by all those who knew him. Mike was man of deep conviction about the things of the Lord and particularly God's Word which he diligently studied and wrote about. For Mike it has always been about the love of God shown to us in Christ's death on the cross and resurrection where we can find salvation. This is salvation offered freely. The Grace of God in Christ says come give me your sins and I will give you my righteousness. It has never been about what we can do to please God, but rather what God has done to save us. Mike's deepest desire for all people would be that they find salvation in Christ.
Now Mike is with the Lord and I think he would want us to be of good courage. In fact, if he could, he would probably tell us about his move from earth to heaven with A Touch of Humor. I know he would definitely want us to "see" the Bible to understand his absence. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 "6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Since becoming a believer in Christ Mike has had it as his highest value to follow and please Christ. And he has done well. Mike is now with the Lord, -and that is a good thing. If you are a follower of Christ then be of good courage, the absence is painful and yet short. Soon we all will get a chance to join Mike and please the Lord. Yesterday Mike's faith became sight.
Finally, if you are not a believer in Christ, Mike would tell you "Come." Come and follow Christ today.
Mike, we love and miss you and look forward to our reunion with you in heaven standing in the Grace of Christ.
Jared Jenkins
Please visit The Prayer List and pray with us.
My prayers are with Mike's family that they would be comforted by their loving Father. We will miss Mike until we see him when the Kingdom comes in its fullness.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers go out to Mike's wife and family. What a faithful servant. What a faithful prayer blogger. Heaven is a little sweeter with him there.
ReplyDeleteI had so many conversations with Mike at his blog. Even when we disagreed I always had a sense that Mike cared deeply and had a desire to love. I considered him a brother and a friend. I will miss him very much.
ReplyDeleteI join my prayers with Fred and Wanda for Mike's wife and family.