“I am Going to Do Better.”

          Eric England

On Thursday, December 3rd I preached the funeral of a brother in Christ, Eric England.  Eric was only 53 years of age.  His lung cancer was vicious and relentless in its pursuit of his body.  It did its work in a short amount of time.  His initial diagnosis was not that bad, but it continued to get worse and spread quickly.  He tried three types of Chemo, but none seemed to work.

Eric was the baby of his family  His dad and mother are longterm member of 7 Oaks.  He grew up in church, but left the church pretty early in his life.  He lived away from the Lord for many years and had his problems.  I knew him through the family, but rarely saw him at worship.  Then in February of 2010 his dad, after prolonged heart problems passed away.  It was at his funeral that Eric said, “I am going to do better.”

But better can be hard to do.  Many say things like that at a funeral, but stay in their same old paths, but Eric changed.  Soon he was restored to the church.  He had his struggles, but Eric did better.  He was in worship regularly and sought to help the church.  I remember Eric working hard last year as we cleaned up some abandoned cemeteries on our “We are the Sermon” workday.  Eric was sincere.

After his cancer progressed, he like any man had his fears and concerns.  He wanted to make sure his soul was ready to meet the Lord.  He approached death in faith and hope.

At his funeral, I recounted this story from his dad’s funeral and that important line, “I am going to do better.”  I encouraged them, as I want to encourage you, to do better!  Don’t just stay the same, but improve.  Life is too short and eternity is too long, for us to not live each day seeking to do better for the Lord!  I know Eric was thankful, and the church was too!