All godly ways are in our future. We will be integrated into and become the righteousness of God. We will be eternal truth. We will know all things. All creation will be under our inherited, shared rule forever. God’s character will be glorified through our character, no matter where we go in or beyond space and time.

This is the hope we have in Christ Jesus. It is a hope that shines before us, coming from within the words “we shall be like Him.” Hold on to that expectation, for it contains spiritual, cleansing power.  The expectation is part of a passage from 1 John 3: 2, 3. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”. Here’s the rest of the passage that to me is the highlight of the whole— “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

If we truly embrace the faith of obtaining clean hands and a pure heart and conscience – like Jesus possessed upon this earth and possesses now – even now will godly purity occur in our lives.

Purification courses through our present bodies as we totally fixate on becoming like Jesus. It compels us to live according to God’s Word (Psalm 119: 9); to eschew dark, aural and visual information and deeds; only focusing on absorbing that which is good, right and praising to God (Philippians 4: 8).

As purification floods our souls, attending to the needy becomes a top priority (James 1: 27). In all circumstances, silver linings and other positives become detectable (Titus 1; 15). And created will be a desire to fellowship with others who love God (2 Timothy 2: 22).

Above all, even in this dim world, purification will help us more clearly perceive, grasp and understand God (Matthew 5: 8).

If purification is appealing – it’s certainly needed – then keep alive the hope of being like Jesus.