At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
Matthew 25:1-7

The wise virgins met the bridegroom at midnight. They didn’t meet on a sunny day or a lazy afternoon. They met in the thick of the night. This is not by accident. Our success hinges on meeting the “bridegroom,” but we don’t meet the Lord when things are sunny, comfortable, and good. We don’t meet Him when everyone else is awake and running about. We meet the Lord at midnight. We meet the Lord when evil reaches its peak. We meet the Lord when hardships and calamities reach fever pitch. We meet the Lord when our life is turned upside down and darkness surrounds us.

There is a time to prepare and a time to test what we’ve prepared. There is a time to sow and a time to reap. When midnight hits and hardships come, we test what we’ve been preparing for; it’s the time to see if we will pass the test or fail. It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff. When times are comfortable and sunny, prepare well. And when midnight comes, pass the test! When things are comfortable, look to a time when you will be uncomfortable.

How do we prevail at midnight? “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out and meet him!” We must keep our lamps burning and lit. When midnight comes and darkness falls, we overcome if we keep our lamps lit. We shine light in the dark if we remain steadfast in our faith. We remain the light in the darkness if we adhere to truth. We are victorious if do not waver or break.

We could call the fifty years of servitude during the Japanese Occupation of Korea “midnight.” It was time to test our faith. It was time to separate the wheat from the chaff. When forced to bow to idols and forsake God, many people dropped their lamps. They lost their light in the darkness. We don’t know what kind of trails we will face in our lives. Just know such times will come. When midnight comes, we can either meet the bridegroom with our lamps blazing or wander in misery in the darkness.

Prepare in advance for the coming darkness, and when it comes, be the light! Live according to the truth and preach the gospel! Some people live according to the truth, but when darkness falls and hardships come, they throw truth out the window. When darkness comes, keep your lamp burning! Keep a reserve of oil for your lamp! This oil is the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and overcome any calamity.

Summary
1. We meet the Lord at midnight.
2. Hardship separates the wheat from the chaff.
3. When darkness comes, live according to the truth.
4. The Holy Spirit keeps the lamp burning.

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