Spiritual perfection on Earth is attained partly, not by mankind collectively, but by every faithful individually, according to the measure of fulfilling God’s commandments and to the measure of humility. Final and complete perfection is reached in Heaven, in the next never-ending life, toward which yet our short life on Earth serves as a preparation and is similar to that of the years spent by a youth in a learning institution, which serve him as a preparation for future practical activity. If the destiny of mankind was limited to its earthly existence, if for a human being everything concluded on Earth, then why: "both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10) Without the future blessed, everlasting life, our earthly sojourn would be harmful and incomprehensible.
Elder Ambrose of Optina
