47 How God transforms the sinner into the saint

 

“I believe that education is the single most important activity there is. If there is good education, then I think everything else takes care of itself, on every level: personal, family, business, community, state, regional, and national levels. I have faith that most of our problems - economic disasters, international and intercultural strife, and even climate problems - can ultimately be solved by a well-educated populace. Education is the cornerstone to growth…” Andrew Zimmerman Jones

The way to the good life

Everyone has his own thoughts regarding the different aspects of a good education. But everyone is agreed that education, whether formal or informal, intellectual or spiritual, or all of those and more, is the key to success in any endeavor. 

So from early on, we learn how to learn. We go through our ABCs and 123s. We learn how best to do things for ourselves and interact with one another to obtain our desired results – get a good job, find a suitable mate, build a beautiful home, raise children, gain fame, fortune and riches – secure the best place for ourselves in the world and live happily ever after.

A beautiful picture, an attainable objective, a worthy goal. It could suffice us for a hundred years, if we’re lucky. But after, it will all be gone.

Is this all there is to life?

Life after death is certain

Fortunately for us, it is not.

This picture just takes up the physical side of life, the life on earth that most people know it to be. But there is more to life than just what you can see and touch.

Waiting for us just at the other side, we will crossover to an invisible world that is the Real World and the True Life.

Every man’s journey in this world

Christians are taught that a man’s life is a journey from being a sinner to becoming a saint. The Hindus explain this concept more clearly in greater detail. They believe that every man undergoes four stages of life.

PIXABAY

We first become a student that initiates studies mainly in preparation for the material aspects of life. Realizing the benefits of a good education, our parents would struggle and sacrifice to afford us this advantage. And depending on our efforts and strivings, we will enjoy the fruits of our labor or suffer the consequences of our neglect.  

 

PIXABAY

 Then next, we become a householder. Here, we find a suitable mate, raise children and engage in economic activity. We are able to enjoy some worldly pleasures. No, this is not at all sinful but the full satiation of our fleshly desires is a natural part of the total human experience, even sex and some excesses are normal and necessary. All things will be corrected and balanced – mastered over time.

Subsequently, as we grow older spiritually and much wiser, now less enamored with the physical attractions of this world having indulged them all, we will, in this life or in a future one, decide to withdraw from worldly involvement and live the life of a hermit or a recluse.

At this stage, we retire from our business or professional activities, relinquish direct family duties and responsibilities and reflect on the deeper aspects and meaning of life. We do all this, not to escape our responsibilities and hardships, but rather, to prepare ourselves for much greater service. 

Once the sinner, now a saint
 

PIXABAY

Finally, as a spiritual pilgrim or a Christian saint, we will devote our life to the service of our fellowmen. The pilgrim or the monk goes wherever he is sent, trusting to divine providence, and helps all those who are worthy and in need of spiritual guidance by sharing the knowledge and wisdom he has acquired over many lifetimes.

The life that never ends

 The cycle then completed, we will have merited our release (or salvation) from the cycle of rebirth, old age, disease and death. No longer subject to death in a physical body, we will then be permitted to live forever after where divine love and eternal happiness wait for us all.