I have previously made an analogy between our situation in this mortal life in relation to Heaven, and that of a student at Medical School training to be a doctor.
Mortal Life = Medical School; Heaven = Being a doctor.
I have found this analogy helpful in trying to articulate the difference to this mortal life made by the expectation of Heaven.
When mortal life is lived primarily to achieve salvation.
To live this mortal life as much as possible with the sole aim of working towards salvation into Heaven, is actually the highest aspiration of many Christian denominations.
This corresponds to attending Medical School with the sole aim of passing the exams and qualifying as a doctor.
Some students approximate to this idea - their horizon is bounded by the goal of attaining a pass grade in final exams.
They work hard attending official classes, revising material over and again, practising exam techniques... all focused on reaching the minimum standard.
They strive to master the exam curriculum but nothing more, because that would be a misdirection of effort away from the essential aim. The aim is to pass the exams safely, rather than well.
But if such people can safely and without sanctions attain the aimed-at medical qualification without working or exams - e.g. by bribery - they will do so.
All they want is that degree certificate!
Medical School is nothing-but a way of qualifying as a doctor.
This suggests how and why salvation is a fundamentally insufficient basis for life.
When Medical School is nothing-but a means to an end, then it has no value of itself. Likewise, if salvation is all that matters, then this mortal life is devalued - and (like achieving a qualification by bribery) it would be better if it could be dispensed-with.
The salvation-focused Christian will often yearn to have this mortal life over and done; or that it never had been.
He thinks: "If only God had created reality such that I had been incarnated directing into Heaven, instead of being compelled to endure this mortal rigmarole - how much better things would have been!"
At the end of this perspective lurks the suspicion that God messed-up; or maybe exhibits traits of ruthless cruelty, in compelling us to endure the futile miseries of mortal life.
In sum: A mortal life lived wholly to attain salvation would even if successful be a meaningless life.
When the aim of mortal life is theosis, as well as salvation
By theosis (which I regard as being broadly the same as concepts such as sanctification, exaltation, deification) I mean the idea that a purpose of this mortal life is to "fit us for Heaven".
The idea that we should, through our lives, strive to make ourselves more holy, more divine in character; more like Jesus Christ; purer, less sinful and more virtuous; more fully-orientated to the life of Heaven.
In the analogy; this corresponds to the student whose goal at Medical School looks beyond the examinations and the degree certificate; and who strives to prepare himself for working as a doctor.
Such a student would seek out extra, and more specialized, teaching; might attend research seminars as well as didactic lectures, would perhaps visit other Medical Schools and explore other models of medical services.
He might go beyond just "picking the brains" of his medical teachers for essential facts and useful exam tips; and try to understand what "makes doctors tick", engaging in deeper conversations about the "whys", as well as the "hows".
Theosis therefore entails orientating beyond salvation, and has potential to add considerably to the function of mortal life; somewhat as orientating beyond qualification adds to the interest and enjoyment of being a Medical Student.
Yet! Even a mortal life that combines theosis with salvation is deficient; because it accords no value to the actual here-and-now mortal life.
Even with theosis; mortal life is still nothing more a means to an end.
Although the "end" is enlarged by theosis; this actual present life is still utterly subordinated to the necessity and needs of post-mortal life.
The intrinsic value of mortal life
For mortal life to be valid in itself requires that mortal life have intrinsic value, and is not merely a means to an end - no matter how glorious and eternal that end.
In the analogy; this imperative corresponds to the value to the potential "extra-curricular" activities at Medical School of a student who is already committed to salvation and theosis.
Those many other possible ways that make the life of the student richer, more social, more creative.
Participating in sports, music, societies. Reading widely in literature. Making strong friendship. Romantic relationships.
Self-discovery and -development. Thinking about "life"; and understanding the essentials as deeply as possible. Choosing an aim, a path, a quest...
These extra-curricular, non-medical, activities of an imaged student - recognize that he is not just "a student"; they are rooted in a recognition that he is (or rather "I" am, from the POV of the student) a here-and-now human being with all the requirements of such.
This is analogous to the necessity that these our mortal lives, be valued for themselves.
That this mortal life is not only "for" something; it is of value intrinsically.
In other words; we are not supposed to live only in conformity to external demands; we are not supposed to live only to qualify for Heaven and serve its purposes; because we have our own unique nature and potentials that demand to be gratified - and ought to be gratified...
Of course, our spontaneous nature and potentials - just considered in and of themselves, and without salvation and theosis - might well include much that would be selfish or destructive - evil.
This would correspond to the old (mostly upper class) Medical Students who would attend college but do as little as possible towards qualifying or equipping themselves for medical practice. They would do as little as possible except (for example) playing sports, socializing, wenching, hunting, boozing, and lazing.
To be an "ideal" Medical Student, there must be as a basis the genuine motivation both to qualify as a doctor, and also to look beyond qualification to aim at being a good doctor. This is the essential framework.
This is why I emphasize the necessity of a "framework" for mortal life; corresponding to salvation and theosis.
However, we ought to recognize that, although necessary, salvation and theosis are not sufficient.
Something more is also needed, is indeed essential - and that "something" has to do with that which is unique to each of us.
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