“Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.”

If what we have talked about in the previous verse is true and the everlasting hope of the Christian believer, then the truth of it will have a massive impact on our thought processes and demeanour as followers of the Lord Jesus. If we have a certain hope of heaven then it will be a goal for the whole of our life.

My final state as a Christian will be perfection. One day, either in death or at the coming of the Lord, the Christian will be finally and forever changed into the perfect person they were redeemed to be. We are not perfect in this life, but strive to be, seeking to emulate the perfections of our Saviour, Jesus, and to be like Him. This is the mindset of the believer, to keep the commandments of the Lord and love Him unreservedly. We walk with God daily and keep in step with His will for our life which is to be holy and without blame in love.

“…because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:16

This is the aim of all our life and the purpose of our daily devotion to our Lord. Our hope is to reach the eternal kingdom and attain perfection because of what Christ has done for us. We can never attain it in our own efforts, yet as redeemed people we have the Holy Spirit living in us and He has a constant work of purifying us through teaching and constraining us to be obedient children of God.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.”

John 14:26

We are also regarded as already perfect in Christ and this is why we can access the presence of God and daily walk with Him. Jesus has bought us for Himself and released us from death that we might walk in a new life with Him, a life of holiness and righteousness. This is the final destiny for sure, but also our purpose in this present life.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

If we are walking with our God and seeking to live righteous lives, then we have this hope of the future set on us. God will keep us in all our living for Him and bring us safely to the end of our life for His glory and our eternal good. God will never let us down or disappoint us, though we ourselves will fail, but our motivations will be to please the Lord and live in this great and certain hope. We will seek to be like Jesus in our character and behaviour and speak always with grace. We will pray that most dangerous of prayers… Lord, make me like you…