Senior Pastor, the Chapel Scott Chapman

I received one of my most helpful pieces of advice at a gathering of Christian leaders some years ago. Joe Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute, made the comment that “time and truth go hand in hand.” The idea behind the axiom is that the truth about something or someone becomes more visible and clear over time. While conceptually this seems straightforward enough, its implications are profound.

Hold opinions with an open hand. This principle acknowledges that in the short run we will not always come to the right conclusions about things and people. Wisdom avoids quick judgments and lets time progressively uncover the truth. This is particularly helpful in relating to God. How often have we felt frustrated with God about the circumstances of our lives only to find out later that his character and plans were far better than we realized? We cannot understand who God is or have confidence in his goodness in the short run. It is only over time that trust in his wisdom and love for us is built.

Realize everything eventually comes to light. All of us face the temptation to take moral shortcuts that promise to deliver what we hope for without anyone ever being the wiser. This notion simultaneously underestimates the power of sin and overestimates our capacity to fool others, including God. Sin doesn’t just change how we act; it also changes our hearts. Isn’t it better to live honestly, openly, admitting our failures, and acknowledging our frailty, than to create a life of pretense and intrigue that ultimately can’t be maintained?

Energy is better spent pursuing a virtuous life than defending one. For much of my life it drove me crazy when people would say negative things about me that weren’t true. Over time, I came to realize that I have a limited amount of energy and I could spend it on defending myself to my critics or on living a virtuous life. Some people will always think less of us that we would like, but most people will eventually see us for who we really are over time.

So when I am tempted to make rash judgments, keep moral secrets, or defend myself against critics, I’ve found that remembering that “time and truth go hand in hand” helps to set my mind on the long view of life and frees me from the turbulent pull of the immediate.

How does this axiom hit you?