Which principles do you champion? Are these biblical principles? Have you made your principles most important because they are your principles?
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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.
I have posted Mike's final cartoon. He was working on this cartoon the few days before his death and it seemed appropriate to post his last work just as he left it. I have added the questions below the cartoon as Mike would typically do. Mike was a man of principle and yet he always let his principles be subject to God's principles. While Mike definitely had his opinions, he always strove to grow into God's opinions about the world and grow in the love, peace, and unity demonstrated to us in Christ. Love people and do that in Grace of God.
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
