11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth[a] and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.
This is Paul's testimony, and in some ways a bit like mine. He used to be a lover of the world, but God sent Jesus into Paul's heart and changed him from the inside out. I respect and admire people who never let themselves get caught up in parties and drugs while they were growing up especially during their adolescence. It takes a lot of courage and self-discipline to not fall into peer pressure and the temptations to conform. But I also hold a lot of respect for those who have gone to hell and back. Their life shows that we live under a huge umbrella that is God's grace and mercy. We all fall into sin at some point in our lives, some deeper than others. But when God reveals Himself to them in the deepest corner of their lives, this change is so beautiful and mind blowing, and you see the work of God ever so clearly. I know this because I've been through my own hell. But God rescued me from my darkness and carried me into His light.
