What Dead Reckoning Means For Christians

“The world is changing. Truth is vanishing.”

-Ilsa Faust, Mission Impossible 7

It’s time to state the truth. We’re in a time where, more than ever, there is no solid ground to stand upon. The world is constantly shifting, leaving everyone trying to find their feet. As Christians, it’s all the harder. Trying to “stand out for Jesus” in a society where conformity is key is harder than it seems.

Thanks to God, we have several tools at our disposal, one of which is dead reckoning. Described by most dictionaries as: (especially at sea) estimating your position by direction and distance travelled rather than by using landmarks or electronic navigation methods.

As Christians, the world should not be what we base our lives on. Earthly events, places, and relationships shouldn’t be our primary targets. Instead, our lives should be based on our progress towards accomplishing Jesus’ greater goal.

The truth is, we have to serve someone. Either we obey Jesus, or the world. And what’s so crazy is that despite all the miniscule things we can’t control, we can choose who we’re going to serve for eternity.

The key.

Like in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, in order to unlock the (literal) entity that is the final goal, a key is needed. But that key has two halves, and the only thing that can verify one half of the key is the other half.

The same is true in our own lives. As the saying goes, there are two sides to a coin (or in this case, two halves to the key). Jesus and the world. As a Christian, the first half of the key represents our love and willingness to serve Him despite all odds. The second represents our human form on earth, and our worldliness.

Many people claim to follow Jesus on the outside, but when we look at the inside – when we attempt to put the key together – the truth becomes clear. The pieces do not fit.

Only when we find a way to balance our lives on earth with our passion for Jesus can we complete the key and unlock the treasure we all hope for so dearly.

“Our lives are the sum of our choices – and we cannot escape the past.”

-Eugene Kittridge

Yes, as Kittridge put it in the movie, our lives are indeed the sum of our choices. The actions and decisions you make influence who you are, and where you’ll end up.

However, while it is impossible to escape the past, it is entirely possible to rectify it. Regardless of what you’ve done, the choices you’ve made, the mistakes you wish you could forget about, it isn’t too late. Jesus will accept you in whatever state you’re in.

There’s no wrong time to make the right decision.