The intellect balks at the concept that repentance (from love) can transform deliberate sins to merits. Is it really possible in one moment to transform evil to good and darkness to light? However, we can gain some measure of understanding by an analogy to war.

It happens in war sometimes that in the course of battle one side captures an enemy tank, and if it is intact, it is included in the armor of the other side. Consider the transformation: just a moment ago it was in every sense an enemy tank; now, however, not only has it stopped menacing our side, it attacks the enemy and helps the war-effort.

(Sichat 12 Tammuz 5727)