As Christians, we all share the same hope. We want to make it to heaven, not just because it is going to be such a beautiful place, but because of who is going to be there. We know that when we get to heaven, we will see Jesus face to face. It is hard to imagine seeing Jesus in person for the first time. What will we say to the one who gave His life on the cross so that we can be saved? How will we be able to thank the one who has helped us maintain our salvation by being our advocate with the Father?

We should be thanking our Savior right now by the life that we live. Consequently, if we do not live according to the will of God, we will not make it to heaven, and we will never see the Lord. One characteristic that we must have now, if we want to ever see Jesus, is holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Holiness is the state of purification that is achieved when one obeys the gospel of Christ, a state attributed in the Bible to the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2) but maintained by us through righteous living.

Romans 6:19 (NIV)
¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

When we allow righteousness to be the controlling influence in our lives, the result is holiness. Are you practicing righteousness? If you are not, then you are not righteous.

1 John 3:7 (ESV)
⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

This is the behavior of all who are holy, and it is the only way to assure ourselves of seeing the Lord someday. We must pursue righteous living.

1 Timothy 6:11 (ESV)
¹¹ But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Pursuing righteousness does not happen by accident, it is a purposeful way of living. We live righteously when we determine to abstain from sinning and follow after the things of God, and we prove our righteousness by the fruit that we bear.

Philippians 1:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Are you willing to live a righteous and holy life now so that you can see Jesus later? This is our hope. Let us achieve it by living the way the grace of God teaches us (Titus 2:12).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.