More on Choosing Direction to Head
- Author:
- Kevin Hopkins
Functions
Function Examples
In many classes, we work with functions. The table above is one I use with my College Algebra class.
Mathematically, a function has two key elements. One, every input has to go to one output. Secondly, every input goes to only one output. I share two favorite functions with them to help them understand these ideas.
I use the "gradebook function" that they are all familiar with. I tell students the absurdity of my turning in grades without giving one student a grade (the registrar will want to know the grade) or giving a student two different grades.
I use the "sheep/goat" function which most of my students are familiar with.
Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
This relates to the function idea as no one will be lacking on one list or the other. We all will be identified as a sheep (blessed) or goat (you will have to keep reading in Matthew 25 to see their fate). We each will have only one identification.
So what NOW?
I then encourage my students to realize that with functions, we start with y = f(x) and usually are given x and asked to find y. But there are often times we are given y and asked to determine x.
I assume most of them have done that with the gradebook function. They have a certain grade in mind they hope to achieve. I challenge them to think about what they need to be doing now (what input is required from them) to achieve that grade.
Even more importantly, I challenge them to consider doing this with the sheep/goat function. If they want to be identified as a sheep at the final judgment, they need to accept Jesus offer of salvation now and do what He says in verses 35-36. If they don't make the conscious choice to be a sheep, then a goat is the only other outcome offered here.
How have others said this?
As with many ideas I have shared here, other people have said these things so much more eloquently. I was reading "You and Me Forever, Marriage in Light of Eternity", by Francis and Lisa Chan. On page 131 it says:
"That (Heaven) is the perfect ending for me. That's what I consider "happily ever after." So now I work backwards-what can I do today to ensure that my story ends that way? We should all make decisions based on hindsight. Picture yourself standing before God at the moment of your death, looking back at your time on earth. At that moment, what will you regret? What will you cherish? Now, what would your life be like if you made your decisions on that basis?"