Romans 6:16-18
16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Plain and simple, I was a slave to sin for the better part of the first three decades of my life. I didn't know (or care) much about Christianity during this time. I had a superficial understanding of God that I'd picked up from my parents, friends, and television, none of which were appropriate sources. I knew who Jesus was but had no personal relationship with Him, nor did I know I needed to have a personal relationship with Him for salvation - and a multitude of other reasons - salvation being the most important. If I had died during this period of my life, I would have gone to hell for eternity. I now have more insight into why that wasn't the case - it was because of His patience, grace, and mercy: 2 Peter 3:9 "9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." I was a wretch. Addicted to sin in the form of alcohol, cannabis, lust, lying, coarse jesting, blasphemy, delinquency, hate, you name it, I was a willing participant in it all. Zealously worshiping at the altar of self. Deceived, in utter darkness, spiraling out of control, thinking I was having the time of my life. I never missed an opportunity to participate in wiles of the flesh. I would anticipate it every day - it was my only desire.