From the beginning, my friend Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. set a high bar for Liberty University to be a world leader in training champions for Christ and to be a model for other Christian universities to emulate. By God’s grace, Liberty has achieved so much in its 50-year history.
Our students not only excel in athletics, academics, professional studies and ministry training but also in military preparation. Our Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is among the finest in the nation. Sgt. First Class Juan Hernandez, a decorated Army leader and military science instructor with Liberty’s ROTC program, summarizes why I have so much pride in our ROTC students:
“It’s really on the cadets, specifically that senior class, to be the most professional students, the best academic students, the most physically fit students. We expect that of Liberty students in general, to set themselves apart from other universities and other students, and we expect that even more from our cadets – to really show that they’re buying into those standards and carrying that legacy and living that culture out.”
As I routinely hear these remarks, and I see our ROTC students preparing for future service to this country, I feel deeply humbled. It is an honor to participate in commissioning and sending our next generation of military service members and leaders. I am thankful that Liberty is doing its part to ensure that our ROTC students have the best educational resources and leadership training for the journey and mission that lies ahead of them. I had the privilege of meeting some of our ROTC students at a recent LU basketball game (see photo).
More importantly, I am praying that our Creator gives our ROTC members and all our Liberty students the wisdom, courage and a deep sense of commitment to Christ and his kingdom, as well as our great nation. It’s so encouraging to see a genuine love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for our country placed in the right order. We are citizen’s best when we recognize that we are Christians first. We know that being a citizen of heaven doesn’t mean that you cannot be patriotic.
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen for his inheritance.”
Our ultimate blessing is in knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. God has given us a promise that if we put our faith in Christ, we have both a hope and an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us and cannot be taken away. That confidence in Christ allows all of us to carry our responsibility with courage and with honor whether we are serving our nation in the military or in whatever calling the Lord has placed upon our lives.
That is why it is so important to take the gospel with you wherever you go. Jesus taught us that leadership requires sacrifice and that “the greatest among you shall be your servant,” (Matthew 23:11). There is great honor and commitment in leadership because leadership is all about sacrifice and service to others.
But service also requires courage. We are reminded from Scripture that when the children of Israel went into the land of promise they were commissioned and commanded by God to have courage and to take heart. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9).
As God commissioned Israel before taking to the field of battle, He commanded them to not forget his great salvation and to remember all his promises.
At Liberty, we are being reminded of those same promises to this day. The Lord has called us, equipped us and given us this responsibility to be champions for Christ and in service to our great nation. Join me in praying for our country, for our military service members and our students in training.
Prevo is the president of Liberty University. Follow him on Twitter