1 Thessalonians 5:23 (from NRSVUE) reads:"[23] May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In this verse in context of the passage and the letter to the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians) we can see a kind of blessing pronounced by the author (Paul the Apostle). This blessing is about the 'sanctification' and preservation of the body and soul (and spirit), but what do we mean by 'sanctify' or sanctification?

Sanctification is the setting apart of Christians for holy purposes from common purpose. To be entirely sanctified means to be fully grown in our vision of purpose, behaviour and thought, and fit for service to the Lord for eternity. The verb to 'sanctify' is referring to us as the recipients and the Lord as the 'giver'. We receive this blessing from the Lord for all of our lives where we continuously grow in the Lord in purpose and in our ways until we become like Jesus Christ in His ways. 

Of course, none of us will reach perfection in this life, especially because all have fallen short of the standards of the Lord and God is in the process of saving us which we cooperate and become like Him over time. Faith and good works are a means through which we become more Christ like, not because we are trying to 'earn' our salvation or work for it like a wage paying job but because as we do more good things we become better people to put it plainly.

Now you might ask, what happens to those of us (I would dare say all of us) if we do not reach the state of being (while retain our individuality at the same time) of Christ likeness? Does that mean we don't make it? Does it mean we will be punished or go through hell? The same answer applies to those two concerns. No! We do not go to hell and no, we still make it.

Instead, because God is all loving and merciful and gracious, God continues this growth in our minds and souls even after death... It is what could be called 'purification' from wrongful tendencies or what some many call sin. At the same time, it is not just a purification or 'purgation' of sin but a process of growth.

Is it painful? Well, not in the sense of punishment or separation from God, but it may be painful to let go of wrongful and selfish tendencies and to realise our guilt. But either way once repented of, we are subsequently forgiven removing that guilt. There may be a stage where we need to apologise to others whom we have wronged, this is painful...but it grows us. 

Purgatory is not a place of punishment but a state of continuous purification of wrongful tendencies and a state of where we can continuously grow before being in the direct heavenly presence of God.
Christians and righteous believers (perhaps in other faiths) are already in the presence of God and 'holy' in the sense of being set apart to being relationally attached to God. However, we are not yet set apart fully to be in the direct heavenly presence of the Father.

Sometimes when bad things happen some ask why God allowed this when God could have stopped such a catastrophe? Others may even say that God pre-determined for events - even terrible events - to occur for some greater good whatever that is. And still others appeal to the 'mystery card'.

I say that the third possibility of mystery while true in many cases as we are not God does unfortunately not adequately at least for me answer the question of evil occurring under the reign of a good God.

The second answer is not pastorally suitable for many as people want to believe in a good God and how can a good God pre-determine say wars which lead to mass casualties or loved ones who die of serious illnesses for some greater purpose. Is there really any greater purpose which outweighs such heinous evils? I'd dare say no. My beloved wife and I have discussed this many times.

The first option which is to answer the question by stating that God did just that - allowed it. it is in my opinion a cop out as the problem still remains: either appeal to a mystery card or appeal to a 'greater good' argument in the face of evil and suffering being allowed.

If you can, do you remember a time when you have asked such questions? I know I have asked such questions and have come to a tentative conclusion that God indeed never allows or causes evil but instead cannot prevent it. God squeezes every good that may come out of a bad event to God's glory. God has an infinite arsenal so to say that God can use in God's infinite wisdom to prevent all evil that is possible to prevent. Remember, I use the term 'possible' and I would add 'feasible'. What I mean is that God can heal an illness with a miracle or with the tools of science we have at our disposal but cannot create a triangular circle or a married bachelor for example as they are impossibilities. God knows all possibilities of how things could turn out or how we may act in a situation and actively intervenes in history in a manner that is persuasive towards humans (and possibly towards animals) - not coercive.

But why should God not be coercive to prevent evil? Because God cannot violate free-will that He gave to humanity out of God's love. All actions of good and evil are ultimately in relation to how much we love God and neighbour. Love cannot ever be forced and violating free-will to do or not do something bad or good is 'forcing love'. True love is persuasive not forceful. Therefore, humans are responsible for their own actions, not God, unless we are persuaded towards doing good, then we can thank God for God's guidance. God therefore does not allow evil; God sometimes cannot prevent it after all God has used at God's disposal due to feasibility or logical impossibilities.

This means that when you sit down to talk with someone and only if someone asks, then you may have the answer they are looking for without appealing to mystery or giving some sort of unsatisfactory answer. If someone is grieving, then it is best to listen to them and be as kind as possible without jumping straight to an answer unless they ask perhaps - at your own discretion and responsibility. The question could be answered if asked by a questioning Christian or someone of another faith or non-faith. It is not that we should shun questions, quite the opposite! Instead, we must seek to work through doubts and questions without shutting them down with an over simplistic answer.