Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 5:33 NIV
Long Life
Life expectancy is a key metric that reflects the overall well-being and health of a country’s population. In Canada, life expectancy has been rising year after year thanks to our single payer healthcare system that is free for all Canadian residents and the increasing awareness among Canadians of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In 1800, the life expectancy in Canada was only 39 years but increased rapidly in the 1900s. The life expectancy at birth in Canada in September 2024 was 82.72 years.
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Mr. Spock, the Vulcan of Star Trek fame, would hold up his hand, spread two fingers and proclaim, in his farewell salute, “live long and prosper.” It has become a cultural icon. Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock, grew up singing in a synagogue choir, and borrowed that famous line from Deuteronomy 5:33: “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” We all want to live long and prosper. The Bible is clear about the life a person should live to enjoy the greatest blessing – it calls us to walk in obedience to all the Lord God has commanded. God wants the best for us. His desire is that we might find great joy in life. He gives us the best way to do so – to love Him with our entire heart, soul, and strength and to love others as we love ourselves. As we walk in obedience to God’s Word, we will discover a life free from guilt and shame – we live long and prosper.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley