"Sin City"

A couple weeks ago, Alex and I surprised my family and flew out to Las Vegas for my sister’s wedding. I had a pretty good idea of what to expect there but actually seeing it in person absolutely blew my mind. Almost as worse was how practically everyone there just accepted what was going on around them. Things were starting to lose their “shock value.” Let’s just say it doesn’t get the nickname “Sin City” for nothing. The first evening I made the comment to Alex that the saying, “break my heart for what breaks Yours” (a line from the song Hosanna) became a lot more real to me.

At 24 years old, a college graduate, and even now a high school teacher, some of the things I saw happening around me in Las Vegas were shocking. Everywhere I have been in my life I have been in some sort of “bubble” where there aren’t a lot of “big” or “shocking” things going on so I was definitely out of my comfort zone.

Even though I come from that sort of background, and a Christian background, after awhile in Vegas I’m ashamed to admit I got a little “judge-y” sometimes. (I know, you’re shocked. Christians never judge others, right!?) I started to think like the Pharisee in the parable in Luke 18:11:

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

The good news is God started convicting me. What makes me, a sinner, any better than those other people? The fact is, ALL of us fall short of God’s expectations. (Romans 3:23) NO ONE can ever have it “all together” or be a “holier sinner” than anyone else. Sin is sin to God no matter what. And it is ugly.

So what is the difference? CHRIST! I will never be good, but praise God with Jesus and His sacrifice for me, I’m accepted by God. It is nothing that I could ever do on my own. We all start from the same point in this life…dirty sinners. The question is where are you going to end up? Continually spiraling downward, or accepted and redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ? Look around… Las Vegas is not the only “Sin City.”

Stephanie

Teen Leader