Simply put, "what are you here after?" means why are you here? What do you need? You might meet a friend at the grocery store and say, "Hey, what are you here after?" What did you come in to buy? I love being from the South - even our quirky little sayings.
Here after is also used in another way that is more commonly understood. The here after often refers to life after death- also known as the after life. You might hear someone say, "I'll get my reward in the here-after." In this context most of us know we are talking about heaven. Although, technically one could use the term to refer to heaven or hell; but for the most part I hear the phrase used in reference to eternal life with God.
So that brings me down to the question..... what are you here after? Come on, I know I am using a silly play on words -- but really - why are you here? Hopefully, we are here after the hereafter. Surely, we all want to go to heaven! We are here after heaven. We want to live with God eternally.
As Christians, we should all keep this in mind. I have a friend who often says, "We have to keep the main thing - the main thing .. and the main thing is getting to heaven." We must always remember this. We can't give up -- Paul tells us in Galatians 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Don't faint, my friends! God is going to reward us. Continue to do good for others. Please keep on living for God. Never lose hope. We all know how much Paul went through. He endured so much suffering for Christ. He was beaten and thrown in jail numerous times, left for dead and shipwrecked all for the cause of Christ. Jews plotted against him constantly. Everywhere he went preaching the gospel and establish churches others came behind him trying to undo the work he did for God. But he never ever gave up.
Paul continually worked for Christ. He never forgot his mission in life was to serve Him. He always seemed to encourage others to do the same. In many of his epistles, he told his readers that he was thankful for them - for his memories of them. And he always remembered them in his prayers.
The Hebrew writer encourages the Christian to "lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, and run with patience (endurance) the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1). In other words - don't stop, keep going -- don't let weights of life drag you down and don't let sin throw you off course.
Another favorite of mine is I Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (ESV) I really do love that first. Keep going. You do make a difference -- you are not working in vain.
Actually when you think about it, all of the apostles are examples of perseverance. Yes, they all of them except John ran away when Jesus was crucified. Peter even denied the Lord three times. After the resurrection though, they learned that Christ forgave them for that. He showed them His love by appearing to them and spending time with them. He continued to teach them "until the day in which He was taken up." After that, none of them ever gave up again. They continued to serve the Lord until they died.
Jesus promised his disciples in John 14 that there are many mansions in His Father's house and that He was going to prepare one for them. He also promised them that He would come back again and receive them to Him so that He would be with them. That is the reward. That promise -- that declaration that we would be with Him is what we are "here after." We are on this earth to seek the reward of being in the Father's house with Christ our Savior.
I know the word play was corny, but our purpose is truly to serve the Lord. We live for Him because He died for us. And the rewards for doing so will be beyond our highest expectations. So hang in there. Don’t give up. Keep up your good works and resist temptation. It really will be worth it. I leave you with one more beautiful verse -- another promise – from God’s word. Penned by James and inspired by the Spirit.
"Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12)
...to them that love Him -- Jesus Christ loves you so much --- Do you love Him?
Christ above all things,
Robin
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12)
Do you love Him?
Christ above all things,
Robin
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