What Direction is Your Slope?

This was the foundation of a graduation speech I gave to the graduating class at R. A. Hubbard High School in Courtland, Al, Thursday, May 21, 2020.

I am forever grateful for the love and kindness shown to me by Principal Mrs. Allen-Cooper, Dr. Satchel, faculty, staff, community leaders, parents, and especially the 24 graduates. I pray the Lord was able to use me to say something inspiring to them. Because of time restrictions and Covid-19, I was not able to expound on the subject matter. It was in all actuality a sermon: What Direction is Your Slope?

Scripture: Eccl. 9:11, “11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

I get three words from this verse as it relates to slopes: Curves, A line, and a Limit.

I want to speak about life in relationship to what I teach: mathematics. I glean from this scripture a connection. Solomon is making the point that people who make it in life are not special. They were not born with a silver spoon. Even though it sure may seem like it. Solomon makes the point that any and everyone can be successful. He says the race is not given to the strongest or the wises nor the richest, but time and chance is afforded to all. In other words, everyone will be given an opportunity to excel. It is up to you how you make use of the opportunity. I will compare this to the mathematical concept called the slope. In Calculus the change in the slope is called the derivative. The slope or derivative has three interesting qualities: a curve, a line, and a limit.

Point 1. Don’t spend your time doing something and you have no clue what it is or what you are doing. I see this a lot in the colleges where I teach. Dr. Stallworth told us that we ought to be so engulfed in differential equations so that if he spoke to us in passing, our response should be “the derivative is!” What do these mathematical principles mean? Without meaning, the concepts make absolutely no sense. Too many want to make an “A” but some even with an “A” have no or little understanding. “Wisdom is the principal thing therefore get wisdom; but with all thy getting, get an understanding.”

Point 2. What are your curves? Curves in mathematics represents adaptivity. How will you adapt to the growing changes in life? Somethings we ought to change with (education, knowledge, morality for the better, health choices, seeking salvation in Christ…). However, there are some trends we should not change with (society, philosophy that leads a person away from God, success that jeopardizes your family, faith, and joy…). 

Rom 8:28, “All things work together…

Rom 12:9, “…Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

1 Thess. 518 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Point 3. What are the lines in your life? The lines represent stability or integrity.

Is 62: 10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

Point 4. What are your limits? The limits could represent who and what are you following? I submit the word GUIDANCE. And also, who are you leading? Because someone is always following us. What determines your limit? Thank God for the guidance you receive from parents, teachers, ministers, family members, and others. Disdain the corrupt influences of the world.

1 John 2, 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 Cor 14:1, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts…”

Peter said in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than man.”

Gal 5, 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

Conclusion

The slopes of life represent rises and falls. We all have them. The biggest falls determines the biggest rises. An old hip-hop song had lyrics, “You get to get up to get down.” We are constantly being challenged by the curves of life. How will you adapt to these changes will determine whether you succeed or fail? Change will come but somethings must remain constant and fixed. Our faith, hope in Christ, our salvation, love one for another, and basic values of decency should never change. 

Amidst the changes in life, the curves and slopes, some continuities but mostly discontinuities, we must remain vigilant. We maintain who and what we are in Christ because He, our Lord is our ultimate limit (Guidance). Paul spoke about the limits, curves, and lines in Phil 3: 11 If by any means I might attain unto (LIMIT) the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained (LIMIT), either were already perfect (LIMIT): but I follow after (LIMIT), if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of (HEAVENLY GUIDANCE) Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (LIMIT): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind (DOWNWARD CURVES/SLOPES), and reaching forth unto those things which are before (UPWARD SLOPES),

14 I press toward the mark (LIMIT WHICH IS IN CHRIST) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

CHRIST paid the highest price. His descent from heaven to earth was the lowest any man could go. He fell the lowest to make us rise the highest. [A mathematical principal: maximum decrease determines maximum increase – Applications of Directional Derivatives]. My brother and Reggie would understand this in the words, “You got to get up to get down… (Hip-Hop).”

Paul expresses to us in Ephesians this awesome bestowing of grace to the church because of Christ our Lord (The changes in the slope):

Ephesians 2: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins (Low slope), hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up (Rise in Slope) together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

AMEN!!!