Why do good people do bad things?
We could trace the reason back to Adam and Eve disobeying God, of course, but oftentimes it’s because of life’s circumstances. Bad people hurt us or influence us. Disappointment and tragedy harden our hearts. The allure of fame, power, or money is too strong to ignore.
Some of those reasons for doing bad things are impressively displayed at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas. It’s a fascinating exhibit. When you walk inside, there are massive signs on the walls that reveal a sad chapter to the pursuit of the American dream, more than a century ago.
“Many immigrants were forced to live in rickety tenement housing, with as many as 12 adults sleeping in a room 13 feet across. Rats infested the buildings, and diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis spread easily. The jobs they could get offered low pay and often dangerous conditions. Immigrants dug subway tunnels, worked in factories, and laid railroad tracks, earning $1 or $2 per day.”
What particularly struck me was an old Italian saying on the wall: “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, I found out three things. First, the streets weren’t paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all; and third, I was expected to pave them.”
Some immigrants went back home. Many stayed, worked hard, and respected the law. Others found a much faster escape from their dire situation… by creating a criminal underworld. Teenagers formed secretive gangs to commit crimes and protect themselves from rivals. Eventually, many mobsters became famous like Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, and John Gotti. The perks of a criminal life continued to allure young men across the country.
While this lifestyle made them temporarily rich, we all know that in the end, “crime doesn’t pay.” Prison or a short lifespan became their destiny. They all thought joining the Mob would lead to a better life. It only created bigger problems, and all their money and power couldn’t save them.
Learning about the Mob life reminded me of this verse from Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus Christ is our eternal treasure. When we focus on Him and His gift of salvation, it puts our earthly problems and worries into perspective. Life is hard, but God offers real solutions that always lead to a better life – an eternal life. So much can be learned in the Bible about how God helps those living in difficult circumstances. Thankfully, in D.C., there’s a museum for their stories as well.
– Ed Doney, Writer/Videographer
