Introduction

We are in the midst of an intense spiritual struggle between the dominion of darkness and the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13). In this city at least, to use a military analogy, it is 1942 and the outcome of the battle – front will be decided soon[1].

In the midst of this warfare, the Holy Spirit has been challenging me about a lack of peace and rest in my own life[2]. This began with a very clear dream in which I was unable to commence a preaching ministry because I had no shoes for my feet. I understood this to be a prophetic reference to the character of the gospel from within Paul’s famous passage on spiritual warfare. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God….as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:12- 13, 15). In scripture, the rest of God always precedes the rule of God.

The Order of Creation

The climax of the creation story in Genesis chapter one is found in Genesis 2:1- 3[3], “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

God’s rest is part of the completion of his work. He rests in the satisfaction of the harmonious unity of his creation. Unlike the previous days, the seventh has no “morning and evening”, it is without end. It is not “workless”, but the new (eschatological) phase of God’s work when he builds his kingdom[4] within what he has made.

Importantly, this day is “blessed”, as a day of climactic blessing it is not a day that should be feared[5] but rejoiced in. It is a particularly holy[6] day that offers an opportunity for intimacy with the divine presence.

From the perspective of the Old Testament, we are to think of God at this point ascending to his throne in heaven (God is pictured enthroned 35 times) to lead the creation to its goal in sharing his holiness. This is a picture of God and man dwelling together in paradise.

Adam failed to image the heavenly pattern in his earthly work. This however does not disturb the divine order. The clearest example is in the construction of the Jerusalem temple. God always gives rest before he builds himself a place to inhabit. “You (David) shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’” (1 Chron 22:8-10). The major themes of rest, rule and divine presence are clearly combined here in that order.

The temple was the “resting place” of God (1 Chron 28:2; Ps 132:8, 14 cf. 2 Chron 6:41; Isa 66:1) indicated by his sitting enthroned above the cherubim (2 Sam 6:2; 2 Ki 19:5; 1 Chron 13:6; Ps 80:1; 99:1). For God to be at rest was not a simple state of occupying a physical building, no matter how glorious, but a state of intimacy where he could say, “I have no wrath” (Isa 27:4). While God was enthroned at rest, Israel was supernaturally protected from her enemies. History reveals this state did not last[7]. Perfect peace between God and his chosen would however only come with the death of Jesus.

The New Creation in Christ

All of the Old Testament, including the first creation, and its types, are fulfilled in Christ. We read of Jesus in John 19:28, 30 “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished….he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” In the great action of the cross’s abolition of death[8], Jesus completes man’s work for God in the first creation. He is now in perfect union with God’s rest from his works. All that God intended for man in sharing his blessed state of holy life at rest is now true for us in Christ. This is the perspective of the New Testament.

The Gospel writers picture Jesus ascending to the throne of God from the cross. This is the significance of the inscription above his head, “The King of the Jews” (Mark 15:26). Likewise, his kingly authority is revealed in the conversion of the penitent thief (Luke 23:40- 43) and the centurion’s confession, ““Truly this man was the Son of God!”” (Mark 15:39).

From the time of his resurrection, Jesus is “seated at the right hand of God” (Luke 22:69; Acts 2:33; 5:31; 7:55 -56; Rom 8:34; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22) where he shares his Father’s throne (Matt 19:28; 25:31; Heb 1:8; rev 3:21; 7:17). Because his earthly ministry is completed he is at rest in the heavenly places with his Father. His work continues without toil in a tabernacle “not of this creation” (Heb 9:11).

Here he is receiving the fruit of God’s promise, ““Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”” (Ps 110:1)[9]. Jesus is ruling in the power of a lordship over sin, Satan and death perfected in his own risen life.

Resting for Rule with Christ

This is exactly the position enjoyed by believers in Christ, “God…raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Eph 2:6)[10]. We are enthroned with Jesus in the heavens.

Saved by grace we are liberated from the works of the first creation (Eph 2:8 – 9). Today, we dwell in the presence of God as new creatures (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15) “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10). These “good works” belong to the kingdom of God as it has now come in Jesus; they are of the order of the new creation where all is at peace with God[11].

This means that when the saints are equipped “for the work of ministry” (Eph 4:12), this work is done in the authority and rest of the new heavenly order.

Let me illustrate this spiritual truth with a natural example. Standing beside the pool next to the elegant Winthrop Hall recently [12], the reflection of the building was perfect and conveyed a wondrous depth and reality. So intoxicating and delightful was this image and likeness that I was compelled to dive into it. As it happened, shortly afterwards a breeze stirred up the pond and the image became distorted and lost its deep appeal.

In like manner the church on earth is called to be so beautiful that it reflects the depths of God’s love in heaven[13]. For this to happen she must be led “beside waters of rest” (Ps 23:1).

Wrath or Rest?

Rest is the condition opposite to wrath. Is the typical Sunday church going performed in the rest of heaven or an attempt to satisfy an angry deity? Is most of the church living in the condition that threatened the readers of Hebrews, “I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (Heb 3:10-11)[14]. Given that large portions of the people of God are driven by a performance driven culture – exhorted to excel in numbers, tithing, prosperity, health etc, it is quite clear that we are not at rest.

This grieves the heart of a Father who is fully satisfied with his children “in Christ”. The revival God is seeking to release is a participation in the refreshment of his eternal Sabbath[15]. Peter is preaching to us in our striving, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19- 20)

Conclusion

The Lord persists to challenge me about my own lack of rest in increasingly pointed ways. I was recently rung by one of my personal intercessors. She was under a conviction to tell me at what time I had been upheld in prayer, it was 2.20 pm, and I immediately knew it referred to Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” The Holy Spirit was making me painfully aware (and he should know, since he lives in me), that I was living from myself (my own strength) and not from the indwelling strength of Christ.

Perhaps we all need to listen to the words of Andrew Murray who stepped into a surprising spiritual awakening over a century ago:

“Claim Jesus as yours, not only in His cross and resurrection, but above all in his heavenliness, in his possession of the rest of heaven. Claim Him, and leave Him to do his blessed work.” In the place of rest, the Holy Spirit will do the work of God in us.