Randy Suits

Truth or Consequences

Kochana,
I watched a funny old game show that tickled my funny bone. Truth or consequences was an American television program favorite for almost 5 decades. Beginning in 1940, Ralph Edwards hosted it on NBC radio until 1957. The popular program began on television in 1950 and ran through 1988 with 4 different hosts. The show was amusing and featured a mix of the quiz element of game shows with wacky stunts. Contestants received 2 seconds to answer a trivia question correctly (usually a question that no-one could answer correctly or a bad joke, i.e. ‘What is the definition of illegal. Answer: sick bird’) before “Beulah the Buzzer” (a monkey on the television show) sounded. In the rare occasion the contestant got the answer right before Beulah was heard, the question inevitably had two or three parts. If the contestant could not answer the ‘Truth’ question correctly before the the buzzer sounded there were ‘Consequences’ which were usually a crazy and embarrassing stunt. (in the photo, Ralph Edwards leads a blindfolded contestant over paper bags filled with water in 1942) In some broadcasts, the stunts included an emotional heart-felt surprise for the contestant like the reunion with a long lost relative or an enlisted son or daughter returning from military duty overseas. Usually a spouse or parents were flown in and the reunion was a highlight of the show. This phrase, ‘Truth of Consequences’, applies to every moment of our lives. Each day is a series of decisions which present a unique question for that moment which carry with them real experienced consequences. If we respond with an incorrect answer (error) we suffer consequences. If our response is truth, we enjoy  blessing. However in life poor decision consequences are never funny. They are painful and often shameful. Like the game show, daily choices are made in an instant but the consequences can endure a lifetime. As we grow in the Lord, He prepares us for every moment of testing, surprise, uncertainty or temptation. Our wonderful parents and family began the learning process by guiding and instructing us in our formative years. They took us to church and lived Godly lives before us. Every effort was expended to teach and lead us in thought patterns and righteous principles which would protect us from error and keep us steadfast on the ‘pathway of life’. In times past God spoke to His people through Godly men and women.  Moses, the prophets and the Apostles recorded the revealed Word of God to teach us the precepts of Life and show us the way of Christ in the Way Everlasting. Yesterday, your Kochane began his 16th reading of the complete Bible. Each time we re-read and study Gods’ written Word of Life, the Holy Spirit opens our understanding. We add to the storehouse of knowledge and wisdom we have acquired in study and communion with Him. In this communion of our finite mind with His All-Knowing Mind, we strive to rightly divide the Word of the Most High God. We read, study and pray that we might be more like Him who created and loves us. As we daily work to show ourselves approved in righteousness we can be assured that our God of Light will lead us to Life Everlasting in the real time ‘truth or consequences’ we experience each day.

Let us avoid the consequences of evil choices and receive the blessings of truth, Kochany