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The passing of time has a great way of putting things in true perspective. A president may be hated and cursed by his contemporaries, but his administration may be given a saner and truer evaluation in time. When a baby is born its parents usually have great plans for its 1ife. However, only time will tell whether he will enter some honorable occupation or become a drop-out or even a crook. The plans that we make that seem so perfect at the moment may turn out to be disastrous and vice versa. I am sure that not even the apostles realized the real importance of Christ to the world and the incomparable influence he would have on history when they were following him in Galilee and Judea. It is true that only time will tell some things.
The “time will tell” truism needs to be remembered in spiritual matters, too. When a church begins new program of work it is often accompanied by much enthusiasm on the part of many people. But after the initial surge of interest passes and the “exciting new program” turns out to be hard, demanding work, the dependable workers are soon separated from those who are otherwise. Time will tell. Perhaps an influential person obeys the Gospel. It is expected that he will do much good and influence many others for good by his example. However, time may reveal that he was not willing to make the necessary sacrifices and his life hurts the church instead of helping it. In the late 1950’s, many brethren were ecstatic that a brother named Pat Boone had become a sudden success in records and movies, expecting him to wield great influence for good from his position. The passing of time has seen him completely abandon the Truth.
A family that seems to be very faithful may move into town and place membership with a church. They may even quiz the preacher about the work of the church before placing, membership. Sometimes those of whom so much was anticipated are very zealous for a while, but then drop out. Also, sometimes those of whom much good was expected turn out to be those who would introduce strange doctrines or practices and cause trouble. Similarly, the backslider who tearfully repents and is joyously received back into fellowship, promising faithfulness, is sometimes soon seen drifting away again. We should be slow to assess the character of a person —time may prove our judgment faulty. The consistent, dependable, though unspectacular person will accomplish the most in the long run. Time will tell.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 22, 1982, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
