The One Who Changed the World

Billions of people have lived and died on this earth. Most have left little behind. A few, though, have shifted the course of history and shaped parts of everyday life.

You wake up and get ready for work. You switch on the lights as you move about the house. You pick up a book or magazine to read on the bus. You take the antibiotic your doctor prescribed to help clear an infection. The day has barely started, and you have already gained from the work of a few well-known men.

– An English physicist who helped bring electricity into daily life

Born in 1791, an English physicist developed the electric motor and the dynamo. His work helped make electrical power more practical and more widely used.

– A Chinese court official linked with early paper-making

In about 105 C.E., a court official in China is often credited with improving a paper-making method. That process helped lead to paper being made in large amounts.

– A German inventor who helped books reach ordinary readers

Around 1450, a German inventor produced a printing press that used movable type. This allowed printing at a lower cost, which helped more people gain access to information on many subjects.

– A Scottish researcher who found a life-saving antibiotic

In 1928, a Scottish researcher discovered a substance he named penicillin. Antibiotics are now widely used to treat bacterial infections.

There is no doubt that a small number of discoveries and inventions have given billions of people real benefits, including better health.

Yet one man stands above the rest. He was not known for a scientific discovery or a medical breakthrough. He came from a simple background and died nearly 2,000 years ago, but he left behind a message of hope and comfort. When people look at how far his words have travelled and how deeply they have shaped lives worldwide, many would say he truly changed the world.

That man…Jesus Christ! What message did he teach, and what can that message mean for your life?