Book 5: New Life

Jon Val jean, in the story of Les Miserables, was a convict and a murderer. The cold and condemning world made his heart increasingly hardened because people hurt him with their prejudice and unforgiving spirit. He endured a wild and difficult 19 years of prison life. Even after having been released, a more severe coldness awaited him in the world. Jon Val jean could have easily become angrier and meaner. However, one priest’s forgiveness and unconditional love changed him into an honorable man. Jon Val jean became a marvelous Christian. It was the priest who helped him to start a new life. To this angry and hateful convict who ran away after stealing the priest’s silver spoon, the saintly priest gave Jon Val jean even more valuable things and said in front of the police who caught Jon Val jean, “Jon Val jean, I gave you much more than this silver spoon. Here, take all this silver candles.” After the police left, the priest said to Jon, “With this silver candles, I will ransom your soul from anger and hatred. I buy your soul from the devil and give your soul back to God.” These words and the compassionate heart of the priest changed Jon Val Jean’s whole life. That was what Christ did for us; He ransomed us by His death in order for us to become a changed people. We are new creation in Christ Jesus The Old has gone! The New has come! Throughout this book, we can see the contrasts and differences of two lives; old life and the new life. Life bound in time and space/Life of eternity Spiritual slavery/Free life Hopeless life/Hopeful life Life of anxiety/Peaceful and worry-free life Worn out life/Energetic life Coward life/Courageous life, Depressed life/Joyful life Live in the past/Life focusing in the future Earthly life/ Heavenly life in the Kingdom of God Life end with death/Life eternal Grudge life/Forgiving and generous life Complainer’ life/Thankful life Rude life/Humble life Disobedient life/ obedient life Life without protection/Protected life Regretful and resentful life/ Positive and delightful life Friendless life/ Friendly life Life of flesh and blood/ Mighty spiritual life Life of enmity and hatred/Reconciled life Spiritually widowed life/Redeemed life Life of cheater/ Life of prince