Then and Now

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. (1 Timothy 1:13)

An unusual video of a seagull stealing a digital camcorder and flying off with it had emerged online sometime back. In the video clip, the cheeky bird creeps up to the camera after a man puts it down somewhere in Cannes, France. Amazingly, the bird, undeterred by the man shooing it away, takes it and soars off into the night sky, filming some amateurish scences. The seagull then lands on the edge of a castle wall where the sound of the bird’s squawking can be heard as it unknowingly starts filming itself.
How the man retrieved the camera from the bird later on is a mystery, but whether it’s real or fake, the seagull’s flight looked convincing. It can truly be said that the seagull acted out of ignorance. No offence intended.

The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy speaks about what all he did in ignorance and unbelief. He was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, yet he was shown mercy by God because he did it out of ignorance having no relationship with God whatsoever though he was a scholar of God's laws. Paul repented and was a new creation after being born again.
The Apostle Peter exhorts us in this manner,
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)
Can we take up this challenge?