St. Paul tells the Christians at Corinth:
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on [the foundation of Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work. If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage. But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire" (1 Cor 3:10-15).
First, this process of disclosure takes place after death, at the moment the man stands before God and is judged for his life's contents -- 'It is appointed unto a man once to die, and then the judgement' (Heb 9:27).
Second, this judgement involves a purification that purges away all the dross that clings to his soul, what St. Paul describes as 'wood, hay, and straw.' These materials are burned away in this judgement. Conversely, that man's good works -- 'gold, silver, and precious stones' -- are refined and retained.
Third, this process of purification hurts; it involves suffering: 'If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss.' This means that this process described here is temporary, since the man in question is destined for heaven: 'He himself will be saved, but only as passing through fire.' This also indicates that this process of purification, 'as through fire,' takes place before that man enters heaven.
All this points to the fact that God, in His mercy, has prepared a way for those who die in the state of grace (see Rom 11:22) and friendship with Him to have the imperfections and temporal punishments due to sin purged away by the fire of His love before they enter into heavenly glory."
Yep, it makes sense to me