Not without reason it is said that he “who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet”, or “all things are known by comparison”. Indeed, only after having been tossed by dastardly passions, fallen into a sin and repented, we start appreciating pure life with God, we start pining for it. That’s why people who were far away from Church after realising how sinful was their life, begin hating their past habits, their eyes are open now and they are blissfully happy that they found the Lord, they become perfectionists and want to pray without ceasing.
Moreover, we have to face adversity during our earthly life because after death, according to a theory, ordeals will come when people are tempted by different passions. At this fiendishly difficult time our soul will make a choice - whether to follow sinful desires or to stay with God. And therefore, during our earthly life we should do our best to curb our passions, to overcome our sinful nature.
That’s why I fully agree with Righteous John who assures that temptations are vital indeed for our purification down the road and Salvation.
