One of the great contrasts between Christians I know in Moldova and Christians in the UK is to be found in our expectancy of the Lord’s second coming. My Moldovan friends would very frequently be talking about the Lord’s coming again and consciously preparing themselves in prayer, and readiness for his appearing. In the UK, I find that we rarely speak about this certain, awesome event which seems to have drifted to the edge of our soul’s conscious awareness.
Looking for his appearing
A close friend of mine from Moldova stayed with me for a while. She so enjoyed fellowship with believers here, but as she left, she asked me, ‘Are the believers here in the UK looking for his appearing?’ It struck me as a very revealing question.
The economic situation during the 1990s in Moldova with the collapse of the Soviet Union was dire. I can remember a Moldovan friend linking arms with me as we walked along a dark street in the capital (electricity was in short supply) and reminding me that the Lord himself was coming very soon and would descend on the clouds of glory. She said that on that day all the present financial problems would become totally insignificant. They live in the day-to-day reality of his return.
Come quickly, Lord
Moldova is seismically active. Another friend related to me that, as a powerful earth tremor struck, she knelt by her bed to pray, sensing that there would not be time to leave the block of flats where she lived. She thought the earthquake was heralding the Lord’s return and she wanted to be ready to greet him.
Another older brother in the Lord said to me recently: ‘I think there will be another awakening, but I am waiting for the Lord to come as soon as possible. I want the church to be boiling hot again, but my first desire is for his return – as soon as possible. I want to say to all believers to be ready at any moment because he is coming very soon – be ready to meet him! Go to the Saviour for cleansing every day, be more holy, keep watch over your eyes, tongue and ears and look for his appearing!’
‘Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ (Matthew 24:44)
