The title of this article was inspired by Orlando Bloom’s character “William Turner’s” famous words to his bride in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End“. He was heading off to sea and, realising that she wont see him in an entire decade’s time, she desperately reached for him, hoping that he wont go. He then utters the words to her: “Just keep a weather eye on the horizon“. This statement rings truer for us as Christians than it did for William and his bride.

Although we know that the word “weather” is frequently used to describe the temporary state of the atmosphere, “weather” is taking on a different contextual meaning here. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, weather in our context means:

“Weather: To live through a difficult situation or problem.”

Cambridge English Dictionary

In times past, it was seemingly easy for Christians to have middle-ground views, but with global events and sinister agendas rising continually, it is time that a choice to stand on one side only be inevitable. There are many issues plaguing our society that need Christians who are firm and are keeping “weathered eyes on the horizon“. Recently, within the United States, there has been a surge of police brutality and racial attacks against African-Americans. There is even the issue of the LGBT agenda and same-sex marriage. Genocidal atrocities have occurred and are still occurring against Haitians in the Dominican Republic. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are continually spreading their rampage across the middle east, with hopes of reaching western nations. Inflation within certain economies is outrageously high, with Zimbabwe recently experiencing inflation of more than 5 billion percent on their currency, basically making it meaningless. Recent spates of earthquakes and other storms and natural phenomena have been occurring, bring havoc to many lives. The world is in physical, financial and moral peril!

In Matthew 24 Jesus had prophesied the various events that would occur before His return. Famine, Pestilences, Wars, rumours about upcoming wars, and the like. The apostle Paul even wrote about many who would become lovers of themselves, working immense iniquity among themselves. All these things are taking place and they will continue to take place. If we have never kept a weather eye on the horizon before, now is the time.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” – Luke 21:28 (NIV)

As Christians, we should never make the mistake to think that all hope is lost. None of these happenings should surprise us and none are a sign that we have lost. In fact it is the opposite. Singular battles may be won by Satan and his henchmen, but overall, the battle has already been won. The situations that are currently happening in our world today are not one of desperation for victory on Satan’s part, but rather, plain, old desperation. Many of these things had (and still have) to happen for the fulfilment of prophecy. The key notion is to be not discouraged; keep a Weather Eye.

Keeping a weather eye doesn’t mean sitting down and doing nothing. There are many who still need to hear the Gospel. Many LGBT advocates and participants need to know of the Jesus who loves them and died for them so that they can eternal life, not a religiously-made, fictional Jesus who hates them. Many criminals need Jesus as well. Even our Governmental leaders who we might criticise often as being corrupt need Jesus. Tell them about the Jesus who hates sin but not them and will save anyone who calls on His name. Live such a life that, when they see you, they don’t even see you but they will see Jesus Himself in you. Our job is to hate sin, not people.

There is a lot to be done still. Many people are confused, hurt, and even just plain hard-headed and/or hard-heartened. Our job: to keep an eye out for such, declare the Gospel to them, and let the Holy Spirit work through us to minister to them and others as He works in their lives. While doing such tasks and conducting good occupancy of this planet, our eyes must be on the horizon, fully “weathered”, for our redemption is drawing near.

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