Tag Las Vegas

Let me first say that I absolutely HATE  (Does all that formatting make it clear how much?) the phrase, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”  I’ve heard it used for countless other scenarios since then and I acknowledge it’s said somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But the far-reaching implication is anything less than wholesome.

As my five year old grandson told me last year when I told him we’d keep the cookie I gave him a secret (I was just teasing him), “Nana, we don’t keep secrets in this house.”

Didn’t Satan try the same approach when tempting Christ? “Just this one time, Jesus.  Who will know?” Or paraphrased, “What happens here, Jesus,  can stay here.”

Isn’t that how we’re tempted as well? With secrecy? “No one will find out. It will be my secret.”

Goodness knows I’ve done it myself with my addiction to sweets. Who sees that tenth cookie I eat? (Originally, I used “five” but who am I kidding?  I can eat a whole dozen. The reason I can and no one knows is because I don’t put on weight easily. A blessing and a curse.)

But I know.

You know.

We might fool everyone else but we never fool ourselves. 

• We can stuff it down deep somewhere.

• We can pretend we didn’t do it.

• We can try to cover it up.

But it will eventually ooze into some part of our life affecting our well-being in some way.

• Sometimes emotional.

• Sometimes mental.

• Sometimes physical.

• All the time, spiritually.

There is no way that hiding unsavory behavior 1 doesn’t affect our lives. The more serious the offense, the greater will be that impact.

For example, the bookkeeper who “borrows” from the company for years only to be discovered and sent to jail certainly knows this is true. Every time we do or think anything, it becomes a permanent part of who we are and affects, limits, or takes away future choices altogether.

The Scriptures are pretty clear that Someone is always watching.

That doesn’t mean God is trying to trip us up or He’s got an “evil eye” on us but more that His presence is everywhere.

Frankly, I find it comforting to know God is watching. even when I screw up. It makes me feel loved and protected just as a  child feels when they are aware of their parent’s watchful eyes.

Psalms 90:8: “You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of your presence.”

What happens in one part of our life isn’t compartmentalized from other parts of our life. We are “complete” beings. The more all our parts is in harmony, the better we function.

Why do you think the phrase was even coined in the first place? It certainly wasn’t to guarantee your privacy or keep your secrets. (If you believe that, I have some swamp land in Florida I can sell you.)

The phrase was coined to get people to spend money in Vegas. That is the first, last and only reason any commercial advertising exists.

It was to convince the masses that something exciting and wonderful happens in Vegas. That people will miss out if they don’t go there. That nothing bad will happen and if it does, you can always keep it secret.

Surely one can’t believe that the management in Vegas or the Chamber of Commerce (or whoever coined the phrase) meant it for anyone’s best interest. Did Satan have Jesus’ best interest at heart?

I’m not referring only to the gambling that is synonymous with Vegas. I’m referring to the concept in general that says we can behave badly in situations where no one knows us nor is anyone likely to find out. Here’s the truth:

• We can fool some of the people some of the time.

• We can fool some of the people all the time.

• We can fool all the people some of the time.

• At times we can even probably fool all the people all the time.

But we never fool ourselves.

Integrity is what our soul requires to be healthy.

God bless and I hope you have a good day.