“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” I visit Las Vegas, Nevada on occasion. I see no point in gambling against insurmountable odds. I enjoy quiet country settings more than glitz. So why go? Business takes place there. The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy are tourism, gaming, and conventions, which in turn feed the retail and restaurant industries. About 20,000 business conventions “happen” in Vegas annually.

The advertising firm R&R Partners, is best known for creating the advertising campaign slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” for the City of Las Vegas. The campaign brought Las Vegas a record-breaking 37.4 million visitors in 2004. Our culture obviously loved the thought of departing the “normal life box” and diving into the “fun and exciting box” Las Vegas offers.

Southwest Airlines offers discount travel called “Wanna Get Away” fares. Don’t get me wrong, I love this airline, but they are taking advantage of our escapism culture as well. A great number of people buy “Wanna Get Away” fares to Las Vegas.

There is nothing wrong with taking vacations. There is nothing wrong with attending business conventions. There is nothing wrong with the proper amount of leisure in life. The problem raises its ugly head when you are attempting is escape responsibility. When you have lost the joy of ordained headship, you are in a state of rebellion. God awarded you the job, you should be rejoicing. Sure it’s hard. Sure it has its moments of stress. However, knowing you are in the place that God has for you, and knowing you are being obedient to the call…well, that’s paradise! Nothing brings greater joy!

Check your attitude. If “I deserve a break” is anywhere in your head, you have big problems. Let’s take a look in Scripture…

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, ³ but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” ⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

(Genesis 3:1-6 ESV)

This is the story of the fall of mankind into sin. This is the point in the story that is spelled REBELLION. Satan played Eve like a fiddle. How did this happen? It seems that Eve is alone with Satan in the garden. Well, Adam is somewhere close physically, he ate too. But spiritually where is Adam? I think he’s in Vegas. (Or something like that)  Maybe after naming all the animals and getting hitched to Eve he felt he needed a break.

My point is, Eve needed the ordained head of the family to be on duty. Not grudgingly, but rejoicing! What if Adam being on duty cried out, “Hey, get away from my wife!”

Well, you get the picture. Rejoicing in our responsibility as ordained leader is the first step in living life without walls. Rejoicing in our responsibility is rejoicing in Christ.

Take a look at your wife…see how beautiful she is. She wants you to kill spiders, hang curtains, put up shelves and pay the mortgage; REJOICE! Take a look at your kids… they want you to play “I spy”, take them to soccer, put food on the table, buy the latest fashions, and pay for college; REJOICE!

It’s all GOD! It’s all good! REJOICE!