How does hoping for Christ's return affect a believer?
Hoping for Christ’s return moves a believer to purify himself, keeping his spiritual life clean and in order. Because the Lord may come today, the believer prepares like a homeowner expecting a guest, straightening up and getting ready to see Him as He is.
The text says that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Les explains that every believer who has this hope—that the Lord will be coming maybe today—purifies himself. Les uses the analogy of a housewife who knows company is coming: she cleans, straightens up, gets the guest room ready, and cleans the bathrooms because she expects a visitor. That, Les says, should be the attitude of every believer every day: keep your spiritual house in order, because any moment we are going to have a visitor. This hope is especially apropos for us today, since we know we will be like Him and as He is.