According to Hebrew tradition on the Day of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) the righteous are written in the Book of Life, I think that it is very easy to see all references to life in the Bible as eternal spiritual life but I believe that we can and should also view life as our temporal life here on earth.
When God entered into covenant with those who had been led out of Egypt (mixed multitude of Israelites and non-Israelites) He laid two things before them: life and death, blessing and a curse. Yes, this life was linked to an eternal state but it was also linked to the quality of life that they would experience whilst on earth. The blessings included a number of things but in summary we would say that the blessings were of provision (fruitfulness) and security in all areas of their life.
There was only one thing that God requested of the Israelites in order to receive these manifold blessings, that one thing was obedience:
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
Related articles
- “You shall have no other gods before me” (heartcriesholy.wordpress.com)
- Love Him and keep His commandments (leadmeintheeverlastingway.com)
- GOD’S FEAST DAYS: By Michael D. Doubler, PhD. Aug.31, 2012 (frankdimora.typepad.com)
Where Faith meets Health 
I think it is true that God asks us to obey because His words are for our life…spiritual and physical, but I also know that some of God’s most obedient servants, like Joni Eareckson Tada, and Sara Frankl, still suffer physically…our deepest life is found in relationship with Him…It was so good to hear from you at my blog…I have been praying for you, Achama, re: what you shared…love and hugs, my friend 🙂
Hi Dolly, you are so right. When I speak of life, healing and restoration I don’t just mean ‘physical’ I mean spiritual whilst on earth not just spiritual in the eternal realm.
xxxxxxxxxx
How blessed are those who have received the priceless “Promise of the Father”… even the indwelling Spirit of Truth… the very seed of God’s own Life dwelling in us! This was not available to the Israelites until Yeshua came, made the New Covenant with the Houses of Judah and Israel and sent the Ruach Spirit upon those who would accepted Him as their Savior and Messiah. Acts 2.
The Promise of forgiveness and Eternal Life is for all whom the LORD is calling from all nations, right now! This is life eternal that we may know the Father! Yes, when His Life is flowing in us… then we can experience Spiriual Life here and now in our daily lives and human bodies.
So many seem anxious to get raptured away to heaven but I have so much to do here still. You know what I mean? Surely it’s about being satisfied with just BEING wherever we are… communing within with the Holy One… rejoicing that one’s name is written in the Book of Life?
Love from Susan..
So glad to have you back Susan 🙂
Yes and Amen, contentment and shalom is much needed in this life, it is part of the abundance of life that God promises us.