J.R. Miller - Never Despair

Rise up, let us go;” Mark 14:42

There seems to be a voice of hope in this call. The disciples had
sadly failed in one great duty: they had slept when the Master wanted
them to watch with Him (Matt 26:41, see below). He had just told them
that they might as well sleep on (v 41), so far as that service was
concerned, for the time to render it was gone forever. Yet there were
other duties before them, and Jesus calls them to arise to meet these.
Because they had failed in one hour’s responsibility they must not sink
down in despair. They must arouse themselves to meet the responsibility
just before them.

Again the lesson is plain. Because we have failed in one duty we must
not give up in despair. Because a young man has wasted his youth he
must not therefore lose heart and think all is lost. There are other
opportunities waiting for him. The loss of youth is irreparable. The
golden years can never be gotten back. The innocence, the beauty, the
power, are gone forever. Yet why should a man squander all because he
has squandered the best? Because the morning has been thrown away, why
should all the day be lost?

The lesson is for all who have failed in any way. Christ ever calls to
hope. He bids us rise again from the worst defeat. In the kingdom of
grace there is always margin enough to start again, and to build up a
noble life. Even down to life’s latest hour this remains true. The door
of opportunity opened to the penitent even on the cross in his dying
hour: there was no time to make anything good or beautiful of his life
on the earth, save in his dying confession and testimony; but the
eternity into which he passed is very long, with time enough for a
glorious career. So it is always. In this world, blessed by Divine love
and grace, there is never any need for despair. The call after any
defeat or failure still is, “Rise up, let us go.”

Source : Come Ye Apart - J.R. Miller, D.D. (Vol 4)

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