The Turning Point (Luke 19:1-10 ESV)

 I'm borrowing the title, sort of, for this message.  I think thousands, even possibly millions more, have now heard of Turning Point, USA, if they hadn't before now.  This in connection with Charlie Kirk who was assassinated, or could we say, martyred for his faith in Jesus and all the biblical principles he stood for.

Charlie was one of the co-founders of this non-profit organisation.   You can look it up on the internet.  Again, internet's information Turning - points - Drama Queen states that the main theme of Turning Point,

" ... leads the plot into new, different and unexpected direction.  This can be caused by a decision, a piece of information, an incident or an understanding.  It closes one narrative unit and creates a new narrative situation at the same time."

Wow!  This so very succinctly describes Zacchaeus' turning point.  It all stemmed from his

 "seeking to see who Jesus was ..." (Luke 19:3). 

 He had obstacles:  he was short of stature #1, and #2 there was a crowd around Jesus making it virtually impossible for him to achieve his goal.

Zacchaeus' desire was so strong though that he didn't let those challenges thwart him.  He had a plan - he'd climb a tree along the purported pathway Jesus would walk.  He may have been short but he must have been nimble.  Ha, ha.

Anyway, his plan worked and along came Jesus.

What excitement Zacchaeus must have felt up there among the sycamore foliage.

He looked down.  And surprize, surprize, Jesus stopped and looked up at Zacchaeus.  If this wasn't a pivotal new direction about to be lit off like a string of firecrackers, what was?

"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today"                    (Luke 19:5 ESV).

What!?

Zacchaeus' seeking Jesus became more than just a passing glance of Jesus.  Jesus gave him an unexpected opportunity to choose new direction for his life.  Zacchaeus chose to come down and oh what a momentus turning point for him!

He hurried down.  He received Jesus joyfully.  Without Jesus asking (so it seems), Zacchaeus decides to pledge to give back any money he had extorted and defrauded from others.  He would

 "restore fourfold".

Zacchaeus had sought Jesus and Jesus had sought Zacchaeus out of all that crowd of people clamoring for His attention.

For Jesus ...

"... the Son of Man [had] come to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

When we seek Jesus, Jesus seeks us.  We can look to Him not just for the turning point of salvation but for every day Christian living.  Let's create new narrative situations even as we close old chapters of our lives that do not please the Lord.

What and when will your turning point be?

Time is ticking.  Seek Jesus, now.

                                             ~ ERC  September 2025 ~

 Based on Luke 19:1-10 ESV.

Sing, I Have Decided (Christ is Enough), along with Hillsong.