Axel might have started his journey on the villains side in the Kingdom Hearts series, but he is the poster child for starting out wrong and still finishing strong. Despite serving Organization XIII and antagonizing Sora and his friends for much of the series, he experienced a change of heart (which is hard to do when you are a Heartless) and chose to serve as an ally to those he once persecuted going forward. While the way that he lived his life and the decisions he made left much to be desired, Axel had always been destined to wield a Keyblade of his own all along… and Axel’s redemptive journey gives hope to all who have “lost heart” due to the sins of their own past.

If you are anything like me, it can be very difficult to forgive ourselves, move forward from our “unworthy” past, and serve the Lord in the presence of those who know exactly what we once were. But our redemption is meant to give hope to those who share a challenging backstory like ours and are searching for more than just forgiveness and absolution. We aren’t meant to embrace the Lord’s grace just so we can sit on the sidelines. We were given a fresh start to our story as well as a “Keyblade” of our own as the Lord works through us so to push back against the same darkness that once oppressed us and bring hope and light to all seeking to be set free. 

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. Colossians 1:21-22

“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Luke 7:41-43, 47

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