“And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here’” (Revelation 11:12)

These words can be regarded as a general invitation to every saint. Every departed Christian in history heard this call, starting with Stephen. He saw Heaven, and said, look “‘the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ … And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’. Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin’. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:55-60).

Instead of dreading the time of your departure, you should be looking forward with great anticipation to the hour of your deliverance. Our song should be – “My heart is with Him on His throne, And ill can brook delay; Each moment listening for the voice, ‘Rise up and come away’.

Our Heaven-born spirits should long for Heaven. But patience must have her perfect work. God ordains with accurate wisdom the most fitting time for each of us to join Him.
As the Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain …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).

Surely, if there are regrets in heaven, it will be that saints didn’t do more when they had a chance. True, there’s the other side of it, that, living so briefly, our sins will be less; but oh! when we’re fully serving God, and He’s giving us seed to sow, it’s better to stay and work for the Kingdom. So as long as our Master says "stay," do His work with joy.