On September 27, 1954, Steve Allen introduced The Tonight Show, officially beginning the battle for late-night television. Since then, late night has seen a variety of hosts: Jimmy
Fallon, Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Joan Rivers, and Ed Sullivan (to name a few). Each person has brought his or her unique personality to the conversation. But there’s only been one King of late night.
For almost thirty years, from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992, audiences around the country would watch and listen as Ed McMahon gave one of TV history’s most iconic introductions:
Heeeeeeeere’s Johnny!
With that, Johnny Carson would walk through the curtain and begin his conversation with people in homes across the nation.
Forty days after His resurrection, just before He would ascend back to the Father, Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise (Acts 1:8). 10 days later, … a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, filled the whole house where they were staying (2:2), and all creation was given one of eternity’s most iconic introductions. The Holy Spirit of God,
the One who calls men and women to the Savior…
the One who convicts them of sin, righteousness, and judgment
the One who cultivates Christ-like character…
the One who comforts and counsels…
the One who equips every believer with spiritual gifts through which they serve God through the Church…
the One who empowers by His presence and indwelling…
and the One who ensures eternity for every believer
sealing them unto the final day of redemption! (to name a few)
The running time for most late-night shows is about an hour. At five nights a week, that’s just 5 hours. Romans 8:9 tells us that when we receive God’s Holy Spirit, He lives in us, providing all the above – and so much more all day, every day… including late night.
This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
1 John 4:13