Les Mis and Faith: A comparison

Hey all - just thought I'd share something that has been on my mind and heart for a while.  Les Miserables, for those who don't know, is my favorite musical.  At its core it is the story of a man named Jean Valjean.  It begins with Valjean being paroled from prison after twenty years - for simply stealing a loaf of bread.  People continually turn him away because of his 'mark of Cain' - his record.  Along the way he decides to break his parole and goes on the run.  He is offered shelter and sanctuary in a church, and ends up nearly going back to prison for stealing the silver cutlery.  The priest who took him in doesn't press charges.  In fact, Valjean is given more of the precious silver.  The priest tells him that the silver has 'bought his soul for God' - and that he must do something good with his life.  From that point on he becomes a champion of the people, opening a factory for those who have no other way to earn money.  (This is set during the French Revolution, by the way).  He raises the daughter of a woman he had allowed to die, ect.  At the end of his life Valjean is seen as a hero.

So... what does that have to do with faith?  Everything!  Jean Valjean's road to redemption is our story.  We sin, often paying tenfold for the most minor (from a human standpoint) transgressions.  We are offered forgiveness, and a chance to do something great with our lives.  It costs us though.  The world hates us, pursues us.  Satan tries to remind us of the misdeeds of yesterday, hounds us like Inspector Javier hunted Valjean throughout the years.  We are given opportunities to sacrifice, and hopefully leave a legacy that will reflect God's Glory.  

There are a few really great lessons to be learned from Les Miserables.  Valjean had an opportunity to protect an innocent woman from a lecherous manager, and didn't take it.  This led to Fantine's death.  Another time he actually gave himself up Javier to save the lives of two men.  He risked his life to save people he didn't know.  We do the same thing!  How often do we overlook a suffering person in the middle of X task for our ministries?  How often do we take the glory for something great that we did, and forget to give God the glory?  One that is too often forgotten:  How often do we decide that what we do isn't important?  

Jean Valjean was like any other human being who accepts salvation - a sinner striving for something better.  How do you want your story to end?