TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

I Was Just Thinking About - - -

In March 1940, a Game Show was introduced on Radio and was titled Truth or Consequences. Wikipedia indicates that: “On the show, contestants received roughly two seconds to answer a trivia question correctly (usually an off-the-wall question that no one would be able to answer correctly, or a bad joke) before ‘Beulah the Buzzer’ sounded (in the rare occasion that the contestant answered the question correctly before Beulah was heard, the question inevitably had two or even three parts). If the contestant could not complete the ‘Truth’ portion, there would be ‘Consequences,’ usually a zany and embarrassing stunt. In many broadcasts, the stunts on Truth or Consequences included a popular, but emotional, heart-rending surprise for a contestant, that being the reunion with a long-lost relative or with an enlisted son or daughter returning from military duty overseas.” The program was on radio and television sporadically for almost 50 years. In one challenge, Ralph Edwards, the original creator and host of the program had the idea for the tenth anniversary program. He asked any town or city in America to change its name to Truth Or Consequences. The town of Hot Springs, New Mexico did so on March 31, 1950 and is now known as Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

In some instances, there is that moment of Truth or Consequences in one’s life. I prefer to think of it as Choices and Consequences. When driving to a preaching assignment recently, my wife and I listened to a Moody Church in Chicago on Prodigals and how we deal with them. It was based upon Luke 15 where there are three parables and subjects discussed by Jesus Christ: The Lost Coin, The Lost Sheep and The Lost Son. A “prodigal” is defined secularly as: “recklessly wasteful or extravagant; a person who spends lavishly or squanders money.” In some family situations, there are those who come under the category of being a Prodigal. It may not necessarily be in terms of wasteful use of finances. It is many times the wastefulness of individual lives. We are living in a culture where indulgent use of drugs and alcohol leads to addiction from which there is no known complete cure. One of the statements that begins discourse in AA or NA after giving one’s name is: “I am an Alcoholic” or “I am a Drug Addict.” Without that recognition and admission, the road to normalcy is more difficult to travel. Step One of AA concludes with: “Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven to A.A. and there we discover the fatal nature of our situation. Then, and and only then, do we become open-minded to conviction and as willing to listen as the dying can be. We stand ready to do anything which will lift the merciless obsession from us.”

The Prodigals know they have made incorrect choices and are now living with the consequences as he/she deal with guilt due to immorality, addiction, illegal activity, etc. The consequences have occurred because of an existent spiritual bankruptcy. The physical has become divorced from the spiritual. The great need is for the “conviction” referenced by A.A., as well as “merciless obsession” to be surrendered to Jesus Christ. Why has this spiritual bankruptcy occurred? II Corinthians 4:4 states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” He then adds: “We do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord…For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ..” He then adds in II Corinthians 5:15-17, “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!” This is the spiritual break-through for the Prodigal, whether it is immorality, criminal behavior or addiction. God and God Alone provides the possibility for salvation and redemption. Prodigals – turn to Him and be healed – be saved. Spiritual Rebels - turn to Him and be healed - be saved. Consider these things with me!