How do future expectations (doctor, husband and father, resurrected Man) affect present behaviour?

Possible future expectations need to be confident in order to be effective in shaping present life. 

At least, "confident" to the degree that we can be sure of anything in this mortal life of change and uncertainty.

When I was a medical student I was confident of becoming a doctor; therefore that expectation shaped my present behaviour so that I did far more than the minimum necessary to pass qualifying exams. I looked ahead to being a doctor - and wanted to equip myself for that situation - so I did extra classes, sought ought extra teaching - made more effort to prepare myself. 

In other words, as a medical student I was willing, able, indeed keen to forgo present gratifications (to the extent of which I was capable); when this seemed likely to contribute to my future state as a doctor.

In contrast; as an adolescent and young adult I did not expect to become a husband and father - and did nothing strenuous to prepare for that eventuality - made no serious or significant sacrifices of pleasure, or creation, or career to that end. 

The vague possibility that I might become a husband, a father; was insufficiently motivating to shape my life. 

If I had been confident that was what I wanted and would likely happen - things would, presumably, have been different.  

What about the possible future state of salvation - the possibility of resurrection to eternal Heavenly life?

The lesson of the doctor and husband examples, is that we need to want and be confident of a future state, in order that it shall shape our present life. 

Therefore; if it is desired that Christians' present behaviour be shaped by resurrection; then our understanding of salvation will need to be one that could instil confidence that we could get it if we want it! 

(This understanding of salvation as something anyone can have if he wants it and will follow Jesus; is set out in The Fourth Gospel... Assuming this book can be read and understood as an autonomous text.) 

By contrast; the traditional mainstream Church understandings of salvation that render it not just uncertain, but unlikely. 

e.g. Because these Churches regard salvation as requiring a wide range of particular and mandatory behaviours, knowledge and judgment of which is administered by A (particular) Church

And because damnation is regarded as the natural default state - render our hope of salvation something about which it is impossible (and indeed counter-productive) to be confident...

Which understanding thereby renders our expectation of salvation so feebly motivating as to be incapable of shaping our present life.