That was the question that my five year old granddaughter Maia asked me this week when she found out that I am 61 years old. After all, 61 years is pretty old when you are only five years old yourself!

"No, I don't think so," I said. "I want to stick around a while for you," was my answer.

This brief exchange had me thinking about the conflict that Christians sometimes experience. On the one hand we are human beings made of flesh and blood and – as King Solomon once said – "the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Ecclesiastes 1:8). Who ever said, after having watched a beautiful sunset, "That's enough, I never want to see another one!"?

God wants us to "prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 1:1). We should enjoy the beauty of nature created by our God. We should meet life's challenges with confidence and courage.

On the other hand, we know that this physical life is not the real life God intended for us. The apostle Paul wrote: "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:21-22).

The kingdom of God on earth will not only mean true life for us as spirit born children of God, but a better life for all people.

We are to pray daily for that kingdom to come and yearn for it (Matthew 6:10). Until then, we say with Paul: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:21-24).

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!