Time is a very valuable gift given to us by the Lord. He is the owner of the vineyard where our “fig tree” is growing. It would be absurd to expect the fig tree to determine when its time is up. (Luke 13:1-9)
That right belongs to the owner of the vineyard. Similarly, we don’t decide when our time on earth is up. Regardless of our bearing good fruit or of our sterility; regardless of our preparedness, age, health condition, goodness or lack thereof, the Lord reserves the right to call us to himself whenever he sees fit. Besides old age, the end of our life on earth could also be the result of a “mean Pilate” who mingles our blood with the one of our sacrifices, or due to a “falling tower,” or simply a little bacterium or a mysterious virus.