For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 NKJV

Paul felt the destiny of his life was to share the Gospel, even if it meant facing constant persecution and even death. 

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:22-24 NLT 

Thankfully Paul’s life was preserved until he accomplished everything Jesus wanted him to accomplish.

Satan is constantly trying to attack those who share the Gospel, just as he constantly tried to attack Jesus Himself. It started with Herod trying to kill Jesus as a baby, and even His own church trying to throw Him off a cliff, as well as trying to stone Him to death. But there was no way Jesus or Paul could die until they accomplished their destiny for living. 

Likewise, even if our lives are cut short, we can be certain Jesus will not let that happen until He has accomplished His purpose for our lives. Here is a remarkable account of Ellen Harmon, a young girl, no more than eighteen years old. She is on a steamboat leaving Portland Maine that has just run into a very dangerous storm. While many were fearful for their lives, this young girl, when asked by an older woman why she was not afraid like everyone else, could answer with assurance:

“I told her I had made Christ my refuge, and if my work was done, I might as well lie in the bottom of the ocean as in any other place; but if my work was not done, all the waters of the ocean could not drown me. My trust was in God, that he would bring us safe to land if it was for his glory.” Ellen White, Life Sketches, p. 241

God did indeed have a work for Ellen to do. Ellen later married James White, an Adventist pioneer, and the rest is history. God also has a purpose for each of us. Our goal in this world should not necessarily be to live a long life, but to live a faithful life. As long as we have the assurance young Ellen had, that we are in God’s care and doing God’s work, the longevity of our life is not consequential, and we shall be prepared to walk away from this world either by death or the Second Coming at any time, satisfied we have accomplished our purpose and destiny as followers of Christ. 

Each has his own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish a certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each of us. Every act, however small, has its place in our life experience. – Ellen White, God’s Amazing Grace, Page 311

You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.