The Tipping Point

Tipping point :> The point at which a slow, reversible change becomes irreversible, often with dramatic consequences. The moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.

In the vaulted halls of the Vatican, home to the Sistine Chapel, amongst the glorious collections of paintings by Michelangelo and Raphael are three maps depicting the Siege of Malta of the 16th Century. This was no ordinary battle, however, and the inclusion of these paintings alongside the great Renaissance Artists is deliberate. For these paintings depict a battle that saved Christian Europe from conquest by the Islamic Ottoman Empire. It was a battle that defied all odds and proved that majorities do not always rule.

The Knights Of Malta

The odds for the defenders of Malta – the Knights of St John - were pitiful, yet these brave and noble Knights managed to repel the most powerful army of their time. They faced down a force that consisted of some 180 warships carrying approximately 30,000 men. Yet this great Turkish army was defeated by a mere 600 knights and some 6000 soldiers and volunteers.

The Knights of St John proved to be the tipping point for their time in History – they thwarted the power of the Ottoman Empire and saved Christian Europe. Through their determination, the tide of Islam across Central Europe was halted. They had stood against the most powerful army in the world and through their courage and endurance they had prevailed. So great was their achievement that all of Europe celebrated and honoured these noble Knights, and even their enemies recognised their courage. Still today, over four hundred years later the exploits of these valiant men are remembered and the Knights of St John continue to represent honour, courage and tenacity.

Ordinary People – Extraordinary Stories

History before and after the brave Knights of St John is full of stories of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives as they stepped up to be change agents and shape their times. Churchill rallied a nation against Hitler. Martin Luther King had a dream that brought segregation to an end in the United States. Ghandi, a lawyer from India, broke the strength of the British Empire and a nation was born. In our own land, Kate Shepherd forged the way for New Zealand women to have the vote in 1893, before any other country granted women the same right. These ordinary people, born for such as time as theirs, pressed against History and transformed their world. They were the tipping point and they demonstrate that one person can make a difference.
Even more so, throughout the Bible we see time and time again, God choosing the few to overcome the many; the small to overcome the large. We see it with David and Goliath, Gideon and his 300 soldiers, and Elijah against the prophets of Baal.

In the book of Esther, we read how an extraordinary Queen saved her people. Yet her story begins not as a Queen, but as an ordinary girl who “won the favour of everyone who saw her” and secured “the approval of the King” (Esther 2:15-17). Then in her position as Queen, yet still with the threat of death, she appeared unsummoned before the King to save her people. She took a stand, found favour with the King and saved the Jewish nation. She changed the course of History.

Our Sphere of Influence

We may not be Kings or Queens, Knights or Prime Ministers, but we are all change makers. We all have a sphere of influence. You may be just one person – one Christian in your family, one Christian in your workplace but you carry within you the King and Lord of all! Don’t underestimate your ability to influence. You affect and impact the people you are around. You can be that tipping point for change that your family, your workplace, city and nation so need.
We were all created for a specific purpose by our God. A purpose to change the world in which we live, to do His divine will. Every pawn on the chess board has a role and is needed if the game is to be won. Don’t discredit yourself if you are not the Bishop or the Queen. We are all needed. We are all planned for. We all have a role to play. We are told in Daniel that “the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Daniel 11:32). So we can confidently and boldly step out and impact every nation and every generation.

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had His eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.” (Ephesians 1:11)

When God looks at you, His focus is not on what you don’t have. His focus is on what you do have. He doesn’t care about your limitations, your IQ, or your education – He cares about what is in your heart. He is moved by people whose hearts are wholly on Him, and He will strengthen those people.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Believe What God Has Placed In You

So watch for that divine connection when you’re out with friends, with family and at work. Understand that there is more to what is going on around you than “you.” There is a divine purpose from God for where you are placed and who you are!

“From one man He made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17:26)
Resist the efforts of the world to keep you as one of the crowd. Look beyond the present conditions. Look beyond the obvious and see the future of your dreams. Ghandi did, Churchill and Martin Luther King did. They saw a future and so they stepped out from the crowd and fought for it.

It takes just one person to stand. So don’t despise the day of small beginnings -just keep on being obedient to whatever God tells you to do. Those small acts of obedience to God, those small responses to God moving in your life all count. Small becomes large – a minority becomes a majority when our God is involved.

A Queen of Persia risked death for her people. The Knights of St John fought against insurmountable odds and changed History. Something happens when a person steps out from the crowd and pushes against History. Are you going to be that someone?

You have a place in History – You were born for such a time as this!