I am grateful for my family heritage and the emphasis placed on education. Not just formal education, but this innate desire that expressed itself in a lifelong quest to learn. My mother was a student of scripture. She could never learn enough about the mysteries of God. Her quest for knowledge resulted in her becoming a Bible worker, and she was an integral part of the evangelistic team for several renowned evangelists.

Each of us children was taught that the Sabbath school lessons were an important part of our education. Each day provided an opportunity to become more familiar with the principles of scripture as revealed in the stories of the Bible. When we grew older, the lessons took on a different dimension. They reviewed the familiar stories but dug deeper into the plot revealing the mysteries of the nature and character of God and man.

My father was disappointed that he was not able to achieve his own personal educational goals. Providing food and shelter for his family of seven children left no opportunity for him. But he made certain that opportunities were made available to his children. I suspect that the special encouragement he gave me was his way of living out his own dream to go to school. I know he was terribly disappointed when I dropped out of college after one year. But he and Momma just continued to encourage me, and they never stopped praying.

You can imagine his joy when, after a number of years, he saw God nudging me into the ministry. After being a lay pastor for some time, I ultimately accepted a call to full-time ministry. Daddy died before he saw me finish college, but his prayers were answered nonetheless. I completed college—a master's degree and even a doctorate—all because of the encouragement he gave me to learn.

The ability and opportunity to learn is such a privilege—a privilege that our Creator gave to each of us. I cringe at the myth that Satan has portrayed of what Heaven is like—with the saved sitting around on clouds with nothing to do but hold a harp. The truth is we will be on an eternal quest of knowledge and adventure. We will have the privilege to learn the exhaustless mysteries of creation and the character and nature of God. I am excited to know that we will continue to grow, develop, and yes, even improve our capabilities throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Why not begin now?

Did you know that each year there are workshops and seminars open to you on our own Andrews University campus—from worship and music, to hydrotherapy and health, from SEEDS conferences to scholarship symposiums? And the Center for Adventist Research and branch office of the E.G. White Estate are thrilling places to trace the leading of God’s people. The Horn Archaeological Museum and Institute of Archaeology are world renowned. The archaeologists' love of the Bible and great scientific processes make dusty artifacts give a clearer context on the life and times of Jesus. And I have always found Andrews faculty willing participants in our Lake Union camp meetings, church services, and special events throughout our Union.

Learning is a great privilege, and whether formal or informal, at church, home, or Andrews University, you can grow from good to great. What new dimension of life does God have in store for you?