"At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is The Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, 'Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Acts 9:21-22 (NIV)
When he received his sight, after being struck down and blinded on the road to Damascus, Saul, who would later be known as the Apostle Paul, changed from persecutor of Christians to preacher for Christ. He never denied his past actions, in fact he began one of his letters to the believers reminding them of his past sins. (Galatians 1:13) He even claimed to be the chief among the sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) Then he told them that God changed him. (Galatians 1:15-16)
The Lord God turned life of the Apostle Paul completely around and took him from being a well known persecutor, to being a prolific preacher, writer of the biblical epistles, and founder of churches. He did not let his past sins stand in the way of being used by The Lord. Some people think that they are too bad for God to want them, or to use them. Jesus came into this world for the purpose of saving lost sinners. (Romans 5:8) We all have a past life of sin (Romans 3:23), but thanks be to God, believers have a future gift of eternal life. (Romans 6:23) Don't let your past sins stand in your way, or hold you back. God loves you. (John 3:16) God has plans for you. (Jeremiah 29:11-12) People will remind you of you past sins when they cannot handle you present situation, and when your future is brighter than theirs.
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