I want proof.

This week, I spent a few days in Las Vegas for work, about my fourth trip there this year.

Whenever I am in Vegas, early AM, I head down to the lower level of the hotel and casino for a cup of coffee and a spot to read my Bible, talk to the Lord. By the way, this has nothing to do with me being holier than thou or some spiritual elitist. Not a chance. I know Mike Harvey. I know that I need to begin my day that way.

It is always an interesting feeling, sitting in the middle of a Las Vegas hotel, the middle of the casino and all that goes on there in early morning hours, reading my Bible.

This week, I found a quiet spot in a bar next to the casino. I was reading Matthew 27. Jesus is on the cross, about to breathe his last breath. The chief priests and elders shout, “come down from the cross and we will believe you are the Messiah.”

They wanted proof.

Reminds me a lot of myself.

There are days when I am not “feeling it.” Those “where is God” moments. I want proof just like those priests and elders at the cross.

“If you do this in my life, God, I will for sure know that you are present.” 

I want proof!

As I was studying, writing, thinking about my need for proof, a guy with his wife sat down a couple of tables from me. 

“What are you reading?” the guy asks.

In all my years doing this in Vegas, I have only been asked this one other time. That time, it was just a quick question as a guy walked by my table. But, this question seemed intrusive. The guy was leaning in. I was thinking, “here we go.”

I said, “The Bible.”

He immediately exclaims, like loudly, “The Bible?? In the devil’s playground? I have been coming to this hotel and casino for over 20 years, and I have never seen this.”

He then asked if he could smoke and moved closer as if he was getting ready for a good conversation. I had no clue where this was going.

The man then tells me that he used to be a “high roller.” When I asked what that meant, he said $20k per hand. He pointed to a room on the side that he called the mansion room and said people “bet millions” in there.

He said he knew everyone at the hotel. He knew the owners and the manager. They take care of him.

Then, the story turned.

The man told me the story of hitting rock bottom, his wife nodding her head. He was down over $200k in this casino, had nothing left. He was leaning against the toilet, and God spoke. God told the man, “I am here, I am with you.” Immediately, Jesus changed his life. He know stands on the truth of Scripture.

His wife then asked me what denomination I was. 

I gave her my normal response. “I am Southern Baptist, but I don’t get hung up in denomination. I believe the Bible.”

She then talked about how she believes that the enemy uses denominations to pull us away from the Bible. The lady began sharing Scripture with me and how God had worked in their life. She said that we need believers bravely sharing the truth in Vegas.

The couple was there celebrating their anniversary. They told me that because he gambled so much over the years, everything is free, so they come there.

For me, that is an amazing happenstance story. What are the odds.

And, it is more than a great story. It is encouragement that God is alive and well. He is present. He is working.

And, for me that morning, it was, once again, proof.

He is present. He is able. He is in control.

And, He is changing lives.

God again gave me proof. I wasn’t asking for it this time but what awesome grace.

That couple impacted my life in a special way.

In fact, each of our testimonies impacts others. We just have to have the courage to share.

Impact others. Live generously.