Victor Hugo's central character in Les Miserables, Jan Valjean, was a destitute ex-convict who was given lodging by a kindly bishop, Monseigneur Bienvenu. In return for this kindness, Jan Valjean stole the bishop's silver. Apprehended by the police, Valjean was frog-marched back to the bishop.
The bishop, seeing an opportunity for redemption, not condemnation, explained to the police that the silver was not stolen, but had rather been given by him to Valjean. He effectively handed Valjean a pardon. He could have prosecuted Valjean. He chose clemency instead.
The bishop said to him: "Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God."
The receipt of amnesty was a seminal moment for Valjean. Moved to the core by the bishop's grace, Valjean reformed his ways and used the silver to establish himself as a good man. The bishop's act made a philanthropist out of Valjean who went on to do great acts of goodness.
The simple narrative should be the story of the Christian. The Christian should constantly look back to his Jan Valjean moment when instead of punishment he received pure silver. It is on this foundation of grace that kindness is inspired.
I remain persuaded that kindness, stripped of its legalism, is only possible upon the foundation of the gospel. All other acts in the name of goodness fall short when they are not motivated by the gospel.
The true apprehension of the gospel eliminates all the bad reasons for doing good things. Good things done because of bad reasons cease to be good.
Surely grace is the truest motivator for the Christian life well lived.
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