Lesson 226 – When the Spirit Gives Rest

Revelation 14:13

"Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, 'Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.'"

While the Bible often speaks of the rest every believer has in Jesus Christ, referring to this rest as that which comes to our souls when we come to faith in Jesus, this verse seems to mention a different rest, one that comes to the believer upon death. Even today, people still use rest as a euphemism for death in some communities, acknowledging that there is still a rest to come in the hereafter.

This voice which came to John in his vision on the Island of Patmos refers to a resting from our labors. While that is certainly true of every person, for in death, we will no longer be at work, but this is almost certainly speaking of a rest which is only available for the believer. I think this vision refers to a resting from our failing effort to live out the Christian life fully for God's glory. We all know we fail in this, unable to resist sin, to fully share the love of Christ with our neighbors, and to reflect God's glory to a lost and dying world. In that way, we need the rest which is to come.

This is not unlike the rest which was attributed to God after creation six days of creation. Genesis records that God rested. Not that God was tired, but that part of his work had ceased. And not that God is not a work today, but in terms of creation, rest is all that remains.

Likewise, for our salvation, our freedom from sin, there is nothing else to do. Christ did it all on the cross, and in us, the Spirit has worked the new birth. We can simply rest, for the work is done.

But still, a rest remains, one that comes only upon being regenerated with Christ in eternity. In this rest, God's work will be fully completed in us, leaving us a life at rest in the presence of our God.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I thank you for the complete work of your salvation that allows me to rest in you. I thank you that one day this salvation will be completed in my life, and rest in your Spirit will be fully experienced in me and your church. Amen.