Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2
I will never forget the joy I felt when Terrie told me we were expecting our first little one. In a single instant, life changed. We began preparing the house, adjusting our schedules, and thinking about the future in a completely new way. And that same sense of joy and anticipation was repeated with each of our four children. Every time we learned we were expecting a baby, it reshaped our plans and renewed our excitement for what was ahead.
Expectancy has a way of reshaping everything. It affects how you plan for the future and how you live today. Any great expectation changes the way we live. When a student expects to graduate, he begins lining up job opportunities and preparing for the next step. When a couple expects a baby, they prepare a nursery and read parenting books. When an engaged couple sets a wedding date, their priorities shift toward that coming day. Anticipation fuels preparation.
Yet in all of these situations, there is still uncertainty. Plans can change. Circumstances can shift. The future, no matter how carefully arranged, is never fully guaranteed. But for the Christian, our greatest expectation is not built on possibility; it is anchored in promise. Based on the Word of God, we have absolute confidence that Jesus will return for us. This is not wishful thinking—it is settled truth. We will see Him face to face. We will be transformed into His likeness. Our future is not uncertain; it is assured by the faithfulness of God.
Such certainty should change the way we live today. When we truly live with the expectancy of Christ’s return, we pursue holiness more earnestly. We serve more faithfully. We hold the things of this world more loosely. Expectancy shapes preparation. And the certainty of seeing Christ should shape every part of our lives.
