If forgiveness purified me, I would never need to seek forgiveness again—if
I was pure, I’d commit no offenses that need to be forgiven. But I constantly
need forgiveness, so I am not yet purified. Forgiveness cleanses me, refreshes
and invigorates me, and gives me a new chance.
But purifies me? No. I am not pure, despite the countless times I have
been forgiven—and for that very reason I know I still need to be purified, no
amount of forgiveness will do that, and I can’t purify myself.
Heaven is a place of perfection, where everyone is pure. Many people
leave this earth forgiven, but no one leaves pure. A purification must take
place, performed by the only One who can do so, between our passing from this
earth and our entrance into Heaven. If not, Heaven is a place of forgiven
people who will still need to be forgiven over and over because they have not
been purified, which would make Heaven no different than earth, so what would
be the point?
Really, what is so hard to understand and accept about this? And as I
asked in my article about the Immaculate Conception and Mary’s perpetual
virginity, why does this strike such a nerve?
