His response threw us for a moment. "Did you win?"
No, we didn't win at the poker room we visited. But he won the discussion, by knowing one of our locations without our even bringing it up.
Our brother might have guessed at the visit based on this blog, or our recent habits. But it turns out he had to review his computer's online browsing history for some kind of Internet activity -- and he noticed we'd called up a couple of casinos in the area, looking for a place to play.
There's a lesson for all of us to gain from this -- especially if you're "sneaking out" to play poker without telling your family or friends. Does someone close to you oppose your poker habit, perhaps because you're gambling away vital money? An ancient leader named Moses warned....
But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. - Numbers 32:23 (emphasis ours)How does it "find you out"? Smart people (like our brother) can track down your online habits, to see if they're for your good or harm. And suspicious minds can follow you around in other ways (check TV series such as Cheaters for proof). Whether or not you're good at hiding your trail, keep in mind:
The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. - I Timothy 5:24That "place of judgment" ultimately is the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, where everyone will stand someday (II Corinthians 5:10). We think it's best to follow the advice of a hymn, and "live transparently" -- with your activities open before God and man. And even better....
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden. - I Timothy 5:25If you're hiding a bad gambling habit, work on developing a good one in its place -- one that's a lot less expensive, and maybe others will appreciate.
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