Friday night at the casino

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men… For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… I desire therefore that the men pray EVERYWHERE, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:1,3,4,8).

The sun is looking for a place to spend the night at the horizon of the Western skies, and his rays of light paints them with several colors; it is his way to say goodnight. The holy hours of the Sabbath are approaching, and due to certain circumstances (don’t judge) I find my self at the parking lot of the River Casino in Redding, CA. So ironic… While thousands and millions of Adventists prepare themselves to go to church and receive the Sabbath, here I am at this place ready to welcome it as well.

The parking lot is full, the name of the business is attractive, and the darker the night gets the more people walk into this place. I walk through the aisles, a security guard approaches me, and I’m asked to please open my backpack for a security check. I don’t resist. He wants to know if I have marijuana and alcohol in the backpack, and I reply with a “no.” After seeing what I have in it, he suggests to take good care of the bag. As I walk away he gets on the radio and says, “Code four on the bag-check request. Male, twenties, black shirt, and brown backpack. At this point I realize that even though there are hundreds of people in this place, each and everyone here is being carefully monitored.

The ladies on the corner eat, the men with hats run in search of caffeine, some rush to the ATM, and others wait in line to cash their tickets. Neyo’s voice over the speaker sings, “Let’s do it tonight… Give me everything tonight… For all we know we might not get tomorrow…” This song hypnotizes and encourages them to give it all and fight for what they have come to get: a promise. The Red Hot Jackpots promises $5522.00, Aladdin offers $50,333.91, and Sun Queen $1,000.

For some it’s entertainment, for others the need for money, and some simply want to forget about their problems at home. An 80 year-old man sits at my table and asks me if I’m counting my losses or my winnings; I laugh with him. I ask him what is he doing here tonight, and he responds, “I came to see if I win the brand new vehicle they are giving away…” Unfortunately, someone already won it 41 minutes ago. At any rate, all have come here in search of a promise.

Everyone here tonight is marked: Some with tattoos and others with scars on their heart. What is their story? By carefully observing each and every one of them, I am struck by another man sitting at my table. I have to admit that I recognize him, but this time he is not smiling. I feel a pain in my chest, and I realize that my heart is feeling the same thing his heart is. He looks at me and says, “You are right, Sergio. Each of them is after a promise, and in the same way they have scars I do too but mine are on the palms of my hands. You have no idea how much I love them! His eyes become shiny by the abundance of liquid flooding his eyes.

As I ponder this morning on the words of 1 Timothy 2, I cannot stop thinking about all those people who I saw last night. God is so interested in them. He monitors each of their steps and follows every move they make. Him too has promises for His children; better promises than the Red Hot Jackpots, Aladdin, and Sun Queen could ever offer. And certainly He wants to mark their lives with the seal of salvation. The question is, what are we doing about it?

I live my life five months at a time; from January to May and from August to December. These are the months that I’m in school, in my Adventist bubble, with my Christian friends, preaching and giving Bible studies to the same folks we preach week after week. Therefore I wonder, “Who are preaching to those people in the Casinos? At the bar? At the nightclub? To prostitutes? To addicts? To the rich? To those who are outside of our bubble? To those who live in the real world?

The fact is that many of us do not know how to approach people in these types of situations. But the reality is that someone has to do so, and very few are willing to break the routine of evangelism and get involved with radical discipleship. Our supplications, prayers, and requests should not be, “Lord, please save them.” But instead, “Lord, please give me the tools, faith, love, desire, courage, words, and your Holy Spirit and USE ME as a divine instrument in order for them to reach salvation!

The Lord is looking for radical disciples. Actually, He is looking for people who He can work with and equip so they can become His radicals. Remember that God does not call the qualified, but he qualifies and equips the called. Therefore, let’s get out of our bubble, comfortable zone, and routine because this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires ALL MEN to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Blessings!