On December 18, 2018, I had the honor of preaching at my good friend Eric D. Jackson's funeral. I first met Eric in June of 2012. By that time, Eric had lost the use of his legs and was in a wheelchair. In early 2018, Eric had to have his legs removed due to infections and clotting issues. By the fall of 2018, Eric was doing much better and was even getting out and about from the skilled nursing facility that had become his home some five years earlier. Eric's death was a shock as he had seemed to be doing so much better. Over the span of 6.5 years, Eric and I developed a close friendship, one that I will always cherish. Eric was a true man of God! He had a love for Jesus and others like none I had ever seen. I look forward to seeing him again one day in heaven. Here are 5 things I learned from my time spent with Eric...
1. Live a life of worship! No matter the circumstances, no matter what a day brings, no matter the situation you find yourself in, always worship! Eric knew that no matter what he was facing physically, mentally, or spiritually, that God was in control and he had a plan for his life. Eric had an unshakable faith!
2 Timothy 1:6-14
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
2. Always put others first! Before I could even get a word out of my mouth, Eric would ask me how I was doing. And unlike many of us when we are hurting or are having a bad day, Eric never made our time togeher about himself. He wanted to know how the family was doing, how the church was doing, how I was doing… He had a genuine care and concern for others.
Phillipians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
3. Never be afraid to let others know when you need prayer, encouragement, or a friend. Several times over the years Eric would call me or message me asking me to pray for him or that he needed a visit (especially on days when he was struggling mentally, spiritually, or physically).
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oilin the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
4. Write a card. Eric loved writing cards and he loved receiving them. In this world of technology, text, and emails, nothing shows genuine care and love like a hand written note or card.
Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
5. Know where you’re going. Eric had no doubt that when the day came that he would die a physical death here on earth, he would be with Jesus in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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