To Tell the Truth

God Reveals Truth Through His Word and Creation

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" John 14:6 (NIV).

Fifty years ago I was a participant on a popular Goodson-Todman program hosted by Bud Collyer. The year was 1963, and the program was "To Tell the Truth." Panelists included Sam Levinson, Lena Horne and Barry Nelson. The show was scheduled to be broadcast on CBS-TV on November 25, 1963. A segment of the program spoke of laughter and good times at the Kennedy White House.

Two weeks later there were tears throughout America. The assassination of John F. Kennedy on Friday, November 23, 1963 erased broadcast schedules and ended the era of Camelot in our nation’s capital. The program I appeared on never aired.

During the show I was an impostor impersonating the youngest officer in the United States Army. It was difficult fooling panelists like Barry Nelson, an Army veteran, who asked me the difference in temperature from ground level to 10,000 feet in altitude. I really had no idea and just threw out a guess. As an Army veteran he asked the right question and quickly figured out I was not the real McCoy.

One panelist, however, did vote for me. Thanks to the humorist Sam Levinson I took home a check for $67, which, at the time, was just about a week’s salary.

Bud Collyer, who hosted “Beat the Clock” and “To Tell the Truth,” loved the Lord. He taught a Sunday school class for 35 years and wrote two inspirational books, “Thou Shalt Not Fear” and “With the Whole Heart.” Bud passed away in 1969 and no longer has a clock to beat! He ran the race and now rejoices in the eternal presence of Truth: His Lord and Savior. 

It is so important to know the Truth. We need to discern impostors and untruths, as well as tell the Truth by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. God has revealed his Truth throughout his creation and his written Word. Jesus came into the world to “testify to the Truth” (John 18:37). 

In speaking to believers, the Apostle Paul writes, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

The enemy of our souls is a skilled impostor. The Bible warns that many will choose him through his craftiness and lies. In that respect, Satan is not playing a game. It is so important to be grounded in Truth and strengthened by other believers.

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" John 8:32.

Copyright 2013 Raymond Schwedhelm
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

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