It may be observed readily that the goal of our salvation is not, as assumed customarily, to gain eternal residence in Heaven. The “mansions” we often refer to actually are dwelling places for God in human beings.
A second observation is that the purpose of the Divine salvation is not to make us happy. It is to provide a dwelling place and throne for God. We have been created for His pleasure and glory, not that we may be pleased. Until this change of attitude on our part is received fully, we will have a distorted, erroneous view of the Kingdom of God and of the Christian salvation.
It is God’s rest that is so utterly important, not our rest. We are urged in the Book of Hebrews to enter God’s rest. It is of the greatest importance to us that we do so. But if we are to profit from the rest that is offered to us, we always must keep in mind that the “rest” first of all is God’s rest, and we are to contribute to God’s pleasure by ceasing from our own self-driven works.
Perhaps the grandest allegory of all is that of the journey of Israel from Egypt to Canaan.
There is Egypt, a symbol of worldly bondage
There is the sovereign move of God against Pharaoh
There are the protecting blood of the lamb and the eating of unleavened bread
There is the miracle as Israel crossed over on the dried-up bed of the Red Sea
There is the cloud by day that led them through the inhospitable wilderness
