Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to finally watch my all-time favorite musical, Les Misérables. While I've listened to the songs countless times in my car, experiencing a live theatrical performance was a completely different level of enchantment. The scores and lyrics enthralled my heart, but it was the characters and plot that truly captivated me. The iconic characters of Jean Valjean and Javert embody the concept of grace and law.

If you meet Javert today, you may find him an admirable character. He pulled himself out of poverty through hard work and dedication to become a highly respected police inspector. He has an unwavering sense of justice - right is right, wrong is wrong, and honor matters. Most importantly, the law matters. Javert is so convinced of his understanding of the nature of the law that he never questions his approach (“Mine is the way of the Lord,” he gallantly sings in the musical’s song “Stars”). Such is the hallmark of a legalistic pharisee.

Philip Yancey recounts his upbringing with his legalistic mother, Mildred Yancey, in his memoir Where the Light Fell. Mildred and her husband had planned to do missionary work in Africa until Philip’s father contracted polio and died. Mildred, grieving her husband's death, dedicated her sons, Philip and Marshall, to God as replacements for their missionary plan.

Mildred had high expectations for her sons, but they could not meet them, leading them to give up trying. When Marshall went against his mother’s will by leaving their fundamentalist Bible college, she vowed to pray daily that God would break him, even paralyze him, for his rebellious actions. Mildred's harsh stance was rooted in a particular branch of fundamentalism that suggested it was possible to reach a state of sinless perfection. Hence, her understanding of God’s will is perfect.

Javert and Mildred Yancey share several similarities in their personalities. Both are staunch believers in adhering strictly to the law, and they take pride in overcoming challenges, expecting the same from others. As a result, they are exceedingly confident in their interpretation of God's will, leaving no room for doubt or questioning. Unfortunately, their legalistic mindset ultimately led to their downfall. Javert met his end by drowning himself in the river, while Mildred's unyielding beliefs drove her son Marshall away from God. Pride prevented them from seeing that the only power that can change our hearts is the grace of God.