L’Chaim!
This Jewish toast, given at engagement and wedding celebrations, is well-known even among Gentiles (non-Jews) and means “To life!”
The recent unfortunate events leading to the implosion of the submersible Titan, on a journey to observe the wreck of the Titanic, are currently ongoing news. It is the tragic deaths of those five men on board that led me to think again on the Hebrew word ‘chaim’, meaning ‘life’ (chai means alive/live/living). You see, it is one of those peculiar words in the Hebrew language that is never singular, it is only plural in meaning – and we can interpret that as implying that we do not live only one life here on earth but will be resurrected again to continue living in eternity.
Jesus explains this in John 11:25
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
For us who believe in Jesus, there is the exciting prospect of being invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, as it is described in Revelation 19:7, after which we will enter the Millennium with Jesus, reigning with Him for a thousand years here on a beautiful and perfectly restored earth.
God already spoke about this feast through the prophet Isiah, thousands of years ago:
Is 25:6 On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a banquet for all peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
A coronation-festival, for the inauguration of the King of kings, which will far surpass all such feasts held in honour of any earthly king, including the elaborate festivities held for King Charles recently!
We therefore do not have to fear death, or dying, if we believe in Jesus and keep His commandments – we can look forward to living with Him forever. I wonder if we, at His marriage feast with us, will all stand up and proclaim the toast: L’Chaim!
Points to ponder:
Have you accepted your invitation to the Marriage Feast of Jesus? All are invited, but not all reply. If you have, put aside all fear of death and dying. Be confident that when that time comes, He will be there to receive you into His heavenly home as His bride!
Priscilla Koeglenberg
Feel free to email me at questions.powerhouse@gmail.com