Les Misérables: Armor That Must Be Put On - Wesleyan (Ephesians 6:10-18)

In Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, we find Jean Valjean, a man forged in the fires of relentless adversity. Imagine him, weary yet resolute, standing in the shadow of the prison where he once lost his freedom. Every day, he awakens with a choice—a choice not just to survive but to thrive in righteousness. It’s as if he stands before a wardrobe, filled with the armor of grace, each piece whispering promises of strength and hope.

With every dawn, Valjean must decide: will he put on the breastplate of truth, guarding his heart against the deceptions of a world eager to tear him down? Will he wrap himself in the belt of righteousness, holding his very being together in a time when revenge beckons like an old friend? The choices he makes echo the words of Paul in Ephesians, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

Picture him walking the streets of Montreuil-sur-Mer, the harsh winds of despair whipping around him, tempting him to cast aside his armor. Yet, time and again, he chooses to don that armor, not just for himself but for those around him—young Cosette, innocent and vulnerable, relying on his strength to shield her from a chaotic world.

Each day Valjean steps into his armor, not out of mere duty, but because he understands that cooperating with grace means actively engaging in the fight. He finds that the strength he draws upon is not his own; it is the very power of God, coursing through him like a river, renewing and equipping him for the challenges ahead.