As someone who works to communicate Christianity to non-Christians, especially college students, there is one person I am most grateful to.
It is none other than the great French author Victor Hugo.
I call his novel Les Misérables the second Romans.
This book asks: is there truly a tomorrow in this world filled with war, pain, oppression, and violence? If so, how can we hope for that tomorrow?
This question is actually a theological question.
How can we usher in the kingdom of God in this miserable world through eternal life obtained through faith? How can we live a heavenly life on earth through faith? Someone has the answer to this question.
Ironically, of all these characters, the most miserable was Jean Valjean, who could not even dare to hope for tomorrow.

[Pages 107-108]

A college student poured out his troubles.
The moment you tell your friends that you go to church, you are labeled as a hardened, extreme conservative who lives in his own world.
This is also how the world views the church.
Most Christian intellectuals cite exclusivity and the resulting lack of communication with the world as the causes of the decline of Korean Christianity.
The purpose of faith is not to make the church the kingdom of God.
The church plays the role of light and salt in the world, restoring the world to the kingdom of God.
But can we be the light and salt of the world if we cannot communicate with the world?
[Page 127]

Throughout human history, the ancestors of faith who were justified by faith had something in common.
It means standing in front of a real typist.
There is a batter that needs to be looked at first.
It is the absolute God.
Then, we must stand before the suffering and pain of the people of this land.
So, I have no choice but to shed the infinite love I have received because of the other person's pain and vulnerability.
Because Jean Valjean stood before the bishop and became a sinner, he was able to become a righteous man who poured out his love unconditionally to the hopeless on the streets.

[Page 157]

The greatness of Jairus is that he waited for Jesus until the very end, even in moments of doubt.
I was afraid, doubtful, and even angry because the situation and environment did not go according to my beliefs, but I waited with faith until the end.
Just then, someone arrives from Jairus' house.
“Your daughter just died.
“So don’t bother Jesus any longer.” This means that now that her daughter is dead, there is no need to bother Jesus any longer.
Wasn't this the reason for your faith?
(...)
“I knew it!” Jairus must have wanted to snap at Jesus.
At that moment Jesus speaks.
“Do not be afraid; only believe.” What we should note is that this is the first time Jesus mentioned “faith” to Jairus.
That is the time to truly believe.
When our faith crumbles and everything becomes scary, that's when the faith we have is real faith.
This belief brings about great miracles that we could not have expected or imagined.

[Page 172]

The belief that trust is not based on one's own reason, but on the infinity of God, cannot be learned on a ship.
This belief in trust does not grow within one's comfort zone, where one's own thoughts, efforts, and strength can sufficiently explain it.
The reason is simple.
Because there is really no reason to believe it.
As I walk leisurely on the ground with both feet, I say, 'Lord, I really rely on you.
Saying 'I believe!' is belief, not trust.
Inside the ship, you already have a direction in which you want to go.
You cannot learn trust by rowing diligently in that direction with your own strength and wisdom like the disciples.

As true faith, trust demands a boundary called belief, something beyond that.
It's like taking a step into an ocean whose depth you don't know.
Only then can we truly learn what it means to believe in Jesus.

[Page 179]

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