Galatians 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
It does not matter how far you think you are away from God or how bad you think you are – God is always ready and waiting to take you under His arms!
The apostle was well and truly engaged with Judaism and the traditions which it promoted; traditions which God did not ask for!
But God was faithful to take him out of this life of habits and use him to spread the gospel message to so many gentiles- Paul was called by God!