The Folks at the Rail

In a recent post we brought up a thought-provoking list of "dont's." If you think the rules in a casino are stiff, consider these....

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. - I Corinthians 6:9-10

Some of the items on this list may seem outdated and offensive, but they're still in the Bible. And you might encounter some of them the next time you enter a poker room. In fact, you might even see them in the mirror before you go in.

For instance, if you're fixated on getting rich playing poker, you could be an idolater:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - I Timothy 6:10

Stay too long in a cash game, and you could lose every penny you have. Stick around too long after making a nice game, and you could qualify for the "greedy" part of that list. Lie about how you're playing, and you could be swindling people out of pots as well -- not to mention disqualifying yourself from God's future Kingdom.

Yet if this describes you, the news is not completely bleak. You don't have to head to the rail and watch the rest of your life as a loser. Go back to that list in the Bible, and read one verse beyond it....

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - I Corinthians 6:11

The apostle Paul wrote these words to a church group which had come out of wickedness. The members did it by turning to Jesus:

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts  2:38

Repentance means turning around from one way of life to another. Pray for God's help in doing it, and He'll not only forgive you - He'll start a process which leads to the Holy Spirit helping you walk in the opposite direction. It might mean giving up poker as you know it. But knowing God and Jesus Christ - potentially for eternity in God's Kingdom - is a lot better.