November 14

Lost Opportunities

He cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come — Mark 14:41

The time for watching is past. Jesus had now passed through His agony, and on His face was the radiance of peace. He did not need any longer the help of the sympathy which in vain He had craved in the darkness. He looked toward the city gate, and there was the traitor coming. There was neither need nor use now for the disciples‘ waking and watching, and they might as well sleep on.

The lesson is plain. Whatever we do for our friends we must do when they are in need of our help. If one is sick, the time to show our sympathy is while the sickness continues. If we allow him to pass through his illness without showing him any attention, there is little use when he is out again for us to offer kindness.

If one of our friends is passing through some sore struggle with temptation, then is the time for us to come up close alongside of him and put the strength of our love under his weakness. If we fail him then we may almost as well let him go on alone after that. Of what use is our help when the battle has been fought through to the end and won without us? Or suppose the friend was not victorious; that he failed, — failed because no one came to help him, — is there any use in our hurrying up to him then to offer assistance? Thus on all sides the lesson presses.

We might have lent
Such strength, such comfort and content
To you out of our ample store;
We might have hastened on before
To lift the shadows from your way,
Darkened, ere noon, to twilight’s gray
With earth’s chilled air love’s warm heart-scent
We might have blent.