"What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas." There is a herd mentality in America that thinks this is a good or at least useful rule to live by with regard to the Nevadan city. Why tell what happened and ruin everything back home? Why should indulgent times in Sin City ruin the more constrained lifestyle and comforts back home at Mundane City?

Sadly, it seems we think it is the modern American's right to get away from the rat race on occasion and sin it up, then not tell. But there are people who deserve to know what happened in Vegas, or at the workplace, or in the basement of our own homes- spouses, and perhaps others. If we don't think others deserve to know, then we are lying to ourselves, and not just others.

Perhaps this specific self-deception is rooted in a more general one: "What they don't know won't hurt them." Or, "If I tell them, the only 'good' it will do is hurt them." These rules of thumb may rightly apply to the lesser unsavory thoughts, feelings, and minor actions we often have. But to use the rules as grounds for not confessing big sins is foolhardy. God's Word says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed." (James 5:16, NASD)

We have become a nation of private indulgence. It is all about selfishness. Our children are no more selfish than we are, and they do much less harm by their childishness. We hide, and deal with our shame by layers of rationalization. But we will eventually be publicly ashamed. We will eventually pay the price both in our personal lives and as a nation. We will pay the price in this life- cold relationships, haunted consciences, depression, addiction, and so forth. But the ultimate Pay Day, a day of perfect justice, is still to come upon our heads- unless, of course, we go and tell Jesus what happened, and ask His forgiveness. And then, out of thankfulness for His forgiveness, resolve whole-heartedly never to live that way again. We still must tell others who we have sinned against, and suffer the consequences. King David of the Old Testament brought hard times on his family by his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah. But there will be no Hell to fear for those who go to Christ now and ask His merciful pardon.

Our consciences give us a clue that retributive justice is coming for those who do not know Christ and will never turn to Him. The apostle Paul wrote: "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my Gospel, God judges the secrets of men in Christ Jesus." (Romans 2: 15- 16). The Bible is always reminding the world that all mankind will one day stand before the judgement seat of God- His great, white, omnipotent Throne. There we will have all our secrets exposed in front of the whole creation- everybody and everything. Our little sins- not to mention the ones that are more prone to occur in Vegas- will not stay hidden.

Nothing that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. We can kid ourselves, but then we will be denying biblical reality. May we not keep pushing out of our minds that which we know deep inside: we will have to give an account to the Lord for every secret thought, word, deed, and feeling. Our only hope is that we confess our sins to God now- all of them- and plead for the blood of Jesus, Who died in the place of sinners, to wash us clean. Then, in the courage of God's sure forgiveness, we can confess our greater sins to those who have a right to know of them. There may be great turmoil upon confession, and perhaps for months and years to come, but at least we will be living honestly in the truth of God, with a good conscience, and eventually our days will flow into eternity with peace like a river.