There are countless stories of how one person can make a difference. It is fascinating to read the stories of people who, if it were not for their actions and achievements, the world would be completely different. Many lives have been completely changed due to the impact of one person. One such person that made a huge difference was Sir Nicholas Winton:
Sir Nicholas Winton was named by CBS News as “proof that one person can make a difference.” Winton’s remarkable actions saved 669 children from the horrors of the Holocaust. He never sought recognition for his efforts and it wasn’t until 50 years later that his heroism was uncovered by the BBC.
Winton was a London stockbroker before the outbreak of the Second World War, but nothing about his personal finances or career made him any more suited for saving children from Nazi Germany than anyone else at the time.
His efforts began after he planned to take a ski trip to Switzerland. As fate had it, he altered his plans to visit a friend in Prague who was working with the British Committee for Refugees. His friend showed him the conditions of the refugees. He was so struck by what he saw that he set up an organization to find families and housing for the children fleeing Germany.
From a humble office situated at a dining room table in a hotel, Winton was able to successfully coordinate the rescue of 669 children. Among the children, many would grow up to become notable mathematicians, politicians, filmmakers, authors and more. His willingness to take action had profound effects on the lives of these children as well as society as a whole. His contributions will be felt for generations to come.[1]
Another little known person who made a huge difference was Martha Gellhorn:
Martha Gellhorn was an author and journalist who is considered one of the greatest war correspondents of all time. She covered virtually every major conflict over the span of a 60-year career. She was relentless in her reporting and managed to find creative ways of uncovering harsh truths about world conflicts.
Gellhorn’s career was groundbreaking in a number of respects including breaking down barriers for women reporters as well as completely changing how war reporting was done. One of her first breakthroughs came when she reported on the Spanish Civil War.
Without a formal assignment from a newspaper, she forged documents to get into the war zone. From there she began focusing her stories on the impacts of the conflict on human lives. Her attention to the human cost was a departure from the usual reporting which focused on battlefield strategies, assessments from generals, the heroics of soldiers, and generalized conditions for civilians.
Some lament today that war reporting has not been the same without her and that the field has backslid into nationalistic whitewashing of conflicts. While it’s difficult to measure Gellhorn’s impact, her reporting helped expose some of the worst of human suffering and allowed many to witness the horrors of war that had not been as clearly conveyed to the public before her.[2]
One cannot also overlook the impact of Maurice Hilleman:
Maurice Hilleman is the greatest microbiologist ever to walk the earth. While you may not know his name, your life has likely been impacted by his work as he responsible for developing over 40 vaccines – a truly herculean contribution to his field. He is thought to have saved more lives than any other medical scientist of the 20th century.
Hilleman came from humble beginnings. He was raised on his uncle’s farm in Montana after his twin sister and mother both died due to complications at childbirth. He later credited much of his success with the fact that he spent so much time raising chickens on this uncle’s farm – chicken eggs were used to grow viruses for vaccines at the time.
He had such a knack for developing vaccines that when his daughter fell ill in 1963 he swabbed the back of her throat, took the sample back to his lab, and by 1967 he had developed a vaccine for the disease. While his methods would no longer work in today’s regulatory environment, his work and dedication have undoubtedly saved millions of lives. Hilleman truly saw every disease as an opportunity to help people and, by the end of his career, he had permanently altered the medical landscape for the better.[3]
There are also those who thrust themselves into dangerous situations to save a life. One story is of a remarkable lady who set aside her personal feelings to save a man that would be deemed an enemy:
In the summer of 1996, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) planned to hold a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Once the word got out that the KKK was planning a rally, activists quickly organized a counter-demonstration for the same day.
During the protests, a white-supremacist snuck into the ranks of the counter-protesters. He was quickly spotted. The KKK member (or “Klansman”) began running and the counter-protestors pursued him aggressively.
The counter-protestors quickly caught up and physical altercations ensued. They began to beat the Klansman and calls were heard to “Kill the Nazi.” Heroically, Keshia Thomas, an African-American counter-protester, jumped in front of the Klansman to shield him from the coming onslaught. She successfully saved a man who was supposed to be her “enemy” from serious physical harm and possibly even death.
Thomas demonstrated a rare sort of courage and love when she risked her own safety to save someone whose identity was defined by hating African-Americans. Despite the emotionally charged moment, Thomas kept her integrity and later remarked, “Nobody deserves to be hurt, especially not for an idea.” Her act of courage saved a life and stopped a cycle of violence.[4]
We can go on and on with stories of ordinary people who made a difference that literally changed lives and turned the course of history.
In Jeremiah 5:1-13, we see the sad state of affairs that the people of Judah found themselves in. Our text can be outlined as such:
- The Power of One (v. 1)
- The Refusal of Discipline (v. 2-3)
- The Lack of Understanding (v. 4)
- The Broken Covenant (v. 5)
- The Response of the Lord (v. 6-12)
- The State of the Prophet (v. 13)
The people of Judah refused to respond positively to God’s hand of discipline. They were stubborn. Though judgement was imminent, they refused to repent. They lacked understanding. Foolishness overtook them. The covenant they had with the Lord has been broken. In their disobedience, they have not met the conditions of the covenant. The Lord responds with judgement. He allows the nation to suffer the consequences of their sin. The prophets have no words. There is nothing left for them to preach due to the unresponsiveness of the people. However, in verse one, we see a powerful statement.
We should never underestimate the power of one. All it takes is one person that is bold enough to do what is right. Verse one says, “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.”[5] God says that if they could find one person who does what is right, then He would pardon the whole nation. Surely, there is one! But, none could be found. In the story of Abraham pleading with God over the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham finally asked God if there were just ten righteous people would He not destroy the cities. The Lord agreed to Abraham’s request, but He did not find even ten righteous people and the cities were destroyed. It is a sad commentary on a society when ten righteous people cannot be found, and even more astounding, is when not even one can be found. You see, the Lord takes great stock in the one. If only one would stand for truth. If only one would live a holy life. If only one would preach the truth. If only one would do the right thing. All it takes is one. Just like Sir Nicholas Winton who saved all those children and Maurice Hilleman that developed a number of vaccines, one person can change the course of history for thousands of people. Shakespeare wrote, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” There are not enough trees in the forest to produce enough paper to record all the stories throughout all of history where one person made a difference. I am reminded of the classic Christmas movie, It’s a wonderful life. George Bailey is given the opportunity to see what would happen if he never was born. The life of an entire town is completely different when there was no George Bailey. The livelihood of many is completely altered because of his absence. Think about your life. What if there was no you? What if you were never born? Your children would not exist. Your spouse would have married someone else. Those you have led to the Lord, may never be saved. If you suddenly did not exist, the downstream impact would be catastrophic.
In Jeremiah’s day, all was needed was one. If one person was found that stood for truth and righteousness, the entire nation would be saved. How can you be that one? How can you be the one that makes the difference in your home, your community, your nation, or your church? Difference makers have certain characteristics about them. There are some fundamental traits found in those who make a difference.
Difference makers care. Someone who makes a difference is one who genuinely cares for others. 1 John 3:17-18 says, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”[6] If you have the opportunity and the means to help someone in need, if the love of God is in you, you will do what you can to help meet that need. Difference makers are those who are moved with compassion. They do not just simply recognize the needs of others, but they actually do something about it. Difference makers are those who care about people. They will take the shirt off their backs for anyone. They genuinely care.
Difference makers listen. Some of the most influential people in the world are people who listen. They pay attention to what others have to say and they learn from them. They are open to having conversations. Proverbs 18:13 says, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”[7] Difference makers are willing to listen and learn from others. As a pastor, I have dealt with a lot of people. Every week someone will come to me with a question, suggestion, or complaint. As I listen to them I try to put myself in their shoes and feel what they feel. After they share with me, the first thing I do is to thank them. I thank them for coming to me and sharing with me their thoughts. I then try to find at least one thing that I can agree with them and then ask them what I can do to help. I will then find something I can act upon to show them that what they had to say was important to me and that it made a difference. Sometime, people just need to be heard. You can make a huge difference simply by listening to people.
Difference makers have unwavering faith. James 1:6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”[8] Difference makers have such a confidence in God that they have no doubt that God has the power to turn any situation around. Difference makers firmly believe that God is working all things together for the good and they do not waver from that belief. Difference makers will never give up on anyone, because they believe in a God who has never given up on them. Their faith us unshaken. It is strong. It is unwavering.
Difference makers dream big. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[9] Difference makers are dream chasers. They have a big vision. They believe in a God that can do all things. They understand that they can never out dream God and that His plans are far greater than we can ever imagine. Those who make a difference truly believe that they can do all things through Christ. They truly believe that nothing is impossible with God. The most successful people in the world are those with big dreams. Difference makers believe in having a vision. As the scripture says, “without a vision, the people will perish.”
Difference makers have a strong work ethic. Those who make a difference are those who believe in hard work. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”[10] A difference maker is one who understands the doxological purpose of God. Those who make a difference will put their all into everything they do because they do it all for God’s glory.
Difference makers are resilient. Difference makers do not give up easily. They are not quick to throw in the towel. Those who make a difference are determined to be successful. They have a tenacity about them. They will not be deterred. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”[11] Difference makers rely on the Lord for their strength. They are disciplined in their spiritual growth which makes them resilient. Difference makers are not deterred. They do not get distracted. They understand their mission and they have an unwavering focus on the mission. They never give up. Even when things get difficult and painful, they press on; because their calling is higher than themselves.
Difference makers are teachable. Those who make a difference are willing to learn from others. They never get to a place where they think that have arrived and they know it all. Difference makers understand they have much to learn. Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”[12] Those who make a difference realize that they do not have all the answers and they seek counsel from others.
Difference makers are obedient. Difference makers live in obedience to God’s Word. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”[13] Those who make a difference will always do the right thing even when it is unpopular. They are committed to living in obedience to God’s Word. Their desire above all else is to bring glory to God by obeying His Word.
God is looking for one to make a difference. One, who will make a difference in your family. One, who will make a difference in your community. One, who will make a difference in your church. Will you be that one?
[1] Streetcivics.com
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] The New King James Version (Je 5:1). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[6] The New King James Version (1 Jn 3:17–18). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Pr 18:13). (2025). Crossway Bibles.
[8] The New King James Version (Jas 1:6). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[9] The New King James Version (1 Co 2:9). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[10] The New King James Version (Col 3:23). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[11] The New King James Version (Is 40:31). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[12] The New King James Version (Pr 1:5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
[13] The New King James Version (Jas 1:22). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Pastor Chris Noland 