When Kindness Became Light
And God said, “Let there be light,” in the midst of the darkness.
The sound of His voice softens even the hardest heart. In the beginning, His voice thundered creation into existence. Throughout Scripture, God often spoke in ways that were unmistakable. Yet today, His voice is often heard through the love of a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a boss, or even a stranger. Christ followers who through their kindness, we catch a glimpse of something profound, something that points us back to Him.
I’ve been reflecting on 1 John 2:1-2:
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
When I look back on my life, I remember how much condemnation was placed upon me because of my sin long before I ever understood why I shouldn’t be sinning in the first place. That condemnation never drew me toward God. Instead, it drove me further away.
Years later, my heart began to change through the kindness of a woman who didn’t really know me, yet chose to love me anyway. Her persistence, compassion, and genuine concern slowly redirected my heart from hurt toward hope. Through her friendship, I finally became willing to learn about a God who loved me so deeply that He took on flesh, entered our suffering, and gave His life so that we might have eternal life.
Suddenly, the sufferings I had used to justify my sin no longer seemed so great. Standing before the cross, my excuses paled in comparison to the sacrificial love of Christ.
As that truth soaked into my heart, everything began to change. Through His righteousness at work within me, I gradually lost the desire to live the way I once had. What years of shame and condemnation could never accomplish, the kindness of Christ accomplished from the inside out.
It wasn’t fear that transformed me. It wasn’t condemnation that changed my desires. It was the realization that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, stood as my Advocate when I deserved judgment and instead offered mercy when I deserved condemnation.
Ultimately, it was His kindness that led me to repentance.
Shame and condemnation alone never transformed my heart. But the kindness and sacrificial love of Christ drew me into repentance and changed my desires from the inside out.