It is hard to believe that our course is coming to an end. As you prepare to continue your studies at Azusa Pacific Online University, I desire to share my heart about my hope for each of you. You have analyzed your strengths and come to a better understanding of the purpose of a Christian liberal arts college. God is preparing you to use your gifts and passions to impact our culture with the Truth of the Gospel through the disciplines you are perfecting in your studies. The world that you are preparing to serve is changing rapidly and you will be equipped with the unchanging Truth of the Gospel. The following YouTube video illustrates the changes that you will face: http://youtu.be/YmwwrGV_aiE.
You will face a variety of worldviews in your experiences and relationships in life. Each person has a worldview whether they are able to articulate it or not. A worldview seeks to find answers to the following questions: How did we get here? Why is the world the way it is? How do we fix and improve the world around us? The more I study; the more I am convinced that the Biblical worldview answers these questions and best fits the world as we actually see it.
We were created in the image of a Triune God (Trinity). This image gives us great capacity for creativity and relationships. Since God has eternally existed in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we can see that relationship is essential to our Creator. How did we get here? God created us and endowed us with great potential.
Our first created ancestors, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against the Creator and infected the world with the curse of sin. We observe a world where men have a great potential, but their best efforts still reveal a brokenness that is evident to the very core of our being. Why is the world the way it is? The human race fell into sin resulting in brokenness and imperfection that impacts all of creation.
From the moment of the fall, God revealed His plan to redeem back His fallen creation. The plan came to fulfillment as Jesus, the Son of God, provided the necessary perfect sacrifice as He experienced the penalty of sin that I deserved to pay. I can echo the words of the Apostle Paul, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (I Timothy 1:15) How do we fix and improve the world around us? Accept the payment of sin that Jesus has offered and then use our gifts and passion to display His image in our lives and vocations; to be instruments of redemption in our world in preparation for the culmination of our salvation: the return of Jesus to rule His creation in perfect justice.
As you continue your studies, my prayer is that you will come to the same conclusion and seek to use that understanding to impact your world with Truth. I have truly enjoyed “listening” to you through your discussions and coursework. I am impressed by the passions that you have already developed. I am confident that God is equipping this cohort with the knowledge to influence your fields of study through excellent and dedication. Finish well!! ¡Vaya con Dios!
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