The Final Rest

by Sergio Valori

he main issue we are made to focus on in Hebrews 3 and 4 is the matter of rest. The word itself is used eleven times in these two chapters and we see from the context that the meaning of the word has to do with both the cessation and completion of work. The word is used with respect to (1) Israel of old, (2) God and (3) believers, or the Church.

If read carefully, we find that the word signifies a particular kind of rest. It is not a period where work ceases only to resume again. The word used in these passages has to do with an ultimate or final rest, coming after an entire process of works has been completed and a full purpose accomplished. This speaks to us of something very vital to God’s people today. The matter of entering into God’s rest is accompanied by several solemn warnings, the last of which speaks of the possibility of falling in a wilderness of unbelief, even as Israel did. (He.4;11)

"So in this age of the Church He works by His Spirit again to form a corporate man in His image."

One of the great frustrating features of the law of Moses was its resulting repetitious lifestyle wherein a final redemptive condition could not be attained. The continual bringing of sacrifices after repetitive sinning could not bring about a permanent wholesome condition of conscience. Neither the individual nor the collective whole could remain fixed in a spiritual state acceptable to God. In the words of Hebrews 7:19, we find, “For the law made nothing perfect (complete) but the bringing in of a better hope did…” In and by Christ Jesus, we have the glorious hope of having transformed lives, a real and permanent relationship with God and fulfillment of the purpose for which He has called us. Oh, what a difference!

When the word rest is used of Israel in Hebrews 3 and 4, it refers to the failure of God’s people to enter into Canaan, the land of promise. After their deliverance from Egypt, God intended to do a work of development in His people, a work designed to prepare them for Kingdom status in the land of Canaan. But the older generation murmured, lusted, disobeyed and failed to enter in because of an overall condition of unbelief. Their conclusion was, “…we are not able…” (Nu.13:31) Thus, they died in the wilderness, far short of both their destination and God’s purpose.

It is interesting to note how death and life can both be at work at the same time. While the older generation was perishing, the younger generation was learning obedience and qualifying themselves for God’s ultimate rest. (Josh. 1:17) This gives us hope in this hour, for while much of the church wanders about in a wilderness of carnality, worldliness and immaturity, a remnant are yielding to God’s ways and drawing closer to God’s ultimate intention.

After Israel finally crossed Jordan, they were still far from God’s intended spiritual goal. Nearly 400 additional years would pass before the ultimate rest would be reached. Although there were brief periods of repentance through the ministry of the Judges, these years were essentially a time of disregard for the message of God’s Judges and God’s law. Their state of anarchy was underscored by the statement in the final verse of Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.” Though they were in Canaan land, they were still far from God’s intended rest.

Finally, in the latter days of David and early days of Solomon, the nation was brought into a proper relationship with their God. God had found a habitation for Himself and was dwelling in their midst, while His people were enjoying the fullness of God’s blessings and presence. It was said of them, “…they lacked nothing.” (1Ki.4:27) Furthermore, all the nations of the civilized world were in subjection to the God of Israel. God had become, not only King of Israel, but King of the whole earth. In his dedicatory prayer for the temple, Solomon thanked the Lord with these words: “Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto His people Israel…” (1 Kings 8:56) This could now be said because God’s work in His people had been completed and the desire of His heart had been established.

According to 1 Corinthians 10:6,11, Israel is a clear type of the Church and the above picture of rest is exactly what the Lord has for His Church today in a spiritual sense. We do not reach God’s ultimate rest merely by a salvation experience or by the baptism in the Holy Ghost. These are but foundational experiences to get us launched on a journey that has the grand climax of appropriating the fullness of Christ as our inheritance. Thus we see in our context of Hebrews 3 and 4 the repeated charge: “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

"Only when this work has been completed, both man and God will enter into their final rest."

Just as Joshua and Caleb gave the word of the Lord for His people to rise up and possess Canaan, so the Lord still speaks today to His Church. Our Canaan is not heaven, but the fullness of inheritance in Christ Jesus. In the words of the Apostle Paul, a five-fold ministry has been set in God’s Church to bring her “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph.4:11-13) The book of Hebrews contains many words of exhortation charging God’s people to move forward in the pathway of His purposes. (We shall consider these in a future study.)

When the word rest is used of God in our context, it is called a “Sabbath rest” because God rested on the seventh day from all His works. God did not cease from His works because they were bad, but because they were finished. He worked for 6 days to form an environment that would sustain the prime object of His creation, a man in His image. It was through this man and this environment that His glory could become manifest throughout the universe. This is why God worked and created and is always the reason why He works and creates.

Certainly all believers are exhorted to cease from their own human efforts in establishing the fullness of their salvation. However, in the very next verse, we are exhorted to “…labor therefore to enter into that rest…” (He.4:11) There is no contradiction here. Although we are to cease from our own good human works, we are responsible for cooperating with the Holy Spirit for the completion of God’s work in us. (See Ph.1:6; 2:12) Again today, God is at work creating something. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph.2:10)

Man has allowed sin to come in to mar God’s image and to ruin His environment, but through the shed blood of Christ and the glorious redemptive work of the Holy Spirit, man will be restored to God’s image and a new environment will be created called the Kingdom of God on earth. Even as God worked in His original creation till He had formed a man in His image, so in this age of the Church He works by His Spirit again to form a corporate man in His image. When, and only when this work has been completed, both man and God will enter into their final rest. Since this glorious work is still in progress, it must be said, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (He.4:9) (to be continued)