A twenty something youth checked in with this question: Is it wrong if I visit the casino in Genting Highlands and indulge in a spot of gambling?
God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
I responded to the youth's enquiry, guiding him with Jesus' teachings that our Saviour Jesus assure us there is no temptation so great that he could not handle. Jesus has given us His victory at the cross and from His resurrection. He will always be at hand to provide us an escape from any variety of temptation. Just cry out to Him for help as our Saviour's presence is always with us.
But this young man is insistent, elucidating that he could not perceive why it can be wrong if he just dabble in gambling as some kind of entertainment and not "gambling." He disputed that Jesus will be angry with him and will not punished him as it is only a minor sin compared to the more serious ones listed in the ten commandments.
"It's not really a significant sin I think!," he reasoned, still trying to win approval to free himself from feeling guilty in committing the wrong.
"I am just playing and not gambling, and I guessed that's okay with Jesus!" he again tried justifying his later on intentions.
As sons of the living God, we should always guard our eminence that we are "Christians", a privilege only as the chosen ones are blessed. The Father has gifted us with the Holy Spirit to keep us safe from evil and we must draw strength and wisdom from Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit to live our earthly lives to honor and glorify Him.
Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22
We cannot chose to believe that Jesus is okay if we are to be half the beast (333)!
So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scripture say, "You must be holy because I AM holy" 1 Peter 1:14-16
Temptations comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it will give birth to death! James 1:14-15
Our downfall as "Christians" resulted from our pretence that when we are tempted to do wrong, we tried to justify by reassuring ourselves that God, our heavenly Father understands.
Perhaps God is trying to understand why we always thought He understood our ordeal when He has already provided Himself to help us run away from evil!
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