While On Earth, God's Work Be Done

"The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance." —Psalm 112:6

The purpose of our lives while here on earth, as beautifully depicted by David H. Roper:

One reason we’re left here on earth and not taken to heaven immediately after trusting in Christ for salvation is that God has work for us to do. “Man is immortal,” Augustine said, “until his work is done.”
The time of our death is not determined by anyone or anything here on earth. That decision is made in the councils of heaven. When we have done all that God has in mind for us to do, then and only then will He take us home—and not one second before. As Paul put it, “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep” (Acts 13:36).
In the meantime, until God takes us home, there’s plenty to do. “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day,” Jesus said. “Night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Night is coming when we will once for all close our eyes on this world, or our Lord will return to take us to be with Him. Each day brings that time a little closer.
As long as we have the light of day, we must work—not to conquer, acquire, accumulate, and retire, but to make visible the invisible Christ by touching people with His love. We can then be confident that our “labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).

When people are swept away from us suddenly or slowly, the predominant question is always, "Why?" God has appointed a time for all of us. When our work here is complete, in God's eyes, He wants us to come back Home and rest. The Acts and John verses above really resonate that notion. God knows, so we should trust fully.