The “afters” Inside

The “Afters” Inside

A good friend of mine is an architect; he dreams up, designs, and builds beautiful things. Exploring vocation in general and his own vocation in particular, he says, “You’ve probably seen photos in magazines of ‘before’ and ‘after’ buildings or rooms. The ‘befores’ are a little worn, a little frayed around the edges, perhaps not quite right. But there are ‘afters’ in there, waiting to be released.”

Feeling a little worn myself, a little frayed around the edges, I found my friend’s words to be life-giving: “There are ‘afters’ in there.” No matter how in need of restoration I may be, no matter how unrenovated I may feel, it is also true of me that my current state is not the entire picture. There are afters inside.

Ambrose of Milan wrote, “You must always be journeying: from decay to incorruptibility, from mortality to immortality, from turbulence to peace. Do not be alarmed by the word ‘death’ but rejoice at the good that the journey will bring. For what is death except the burial of vice and the raising up of virtue?”^a

Our natural response when we observe decline or death—even change of any sort—is sorrow. Dread. Fear. But for new things to live, old things must die. Jobs end. Once-vibrant friendships fade. Teachers come and go. Addresses change. Loyalties do too. Adorable babies become strong-willed children. (And then those children learn to drive!) But in every instance, there are afters in there, waiting to be released.

For the believer, this is doubly true—because we carry within us the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. No matter how undone we feel, the story isn’t over yet. No matter how limited our view, a fuller, richer picture exists. No matter how still the strings of our heart may be, unsung music stirs and will be sung. We are a people with afters inside, and we follow a God who makes them true.

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NIV

^a Ambrose, De Bono Mortis, 4.15.