You know, when I consider my life before my encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, it's almost like it was a dream and this is the reality. What's funny is that from the outside looking in, my life was clean. I mean, I was a pretty good dude. I wasn't a thug. I was respectful to adults, intelligent, etc. My life looked pretty sanitized. But the reality is that I was bound by my sin. I was a slave. It's like it says in Titus 3: 3-
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another."
And if I'm honest with myself, that was me. The reality is that I was trapped by a demonic world system that had a lock on my mind and my soul. And there was no escape, even though I tried. I looked for escape in games, sports, comfort- you name it. But at some point I had to come face to face with my biggest enemy- me. The Spirit of God, in the midst of my rebellion and, I should add- without my permission- changed my heart and opened my eyes. By God's grace, I heard the gospel concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who lived a perfect life and died as a substitute, taking on Himself the wrath that I deserve for my sin. And He rose again from the grave on the third day. And for the first time, the one who I once wanted nothing to do with was now irresistably amazing and fascinating to me. And by the grace of God, I repented and I believed in Him and I was saved. At that point, the person I once was- he died. And the life that I lived before- that was dead also. It's almost as though God were saying to me, "Shai, wake up. You're alive." And I give God all the glory for that.