Elijah prayed, “O LORD, take my life” (I Kings 19:4), but God did not answer that prayer. If that prayer had been answered, he would have missed the chariot ride of his life. He would have missed the great work that was left which God had for him to do. Some have not prayed that prayer, “Lord, take my life”, but they have given up on life and getting anything worthwhile done. They have walked away from serving the Lord to become absorbed in work or leisure. God is not interested in taking your life. He wants you to give it to Him as a living sacrifice. Your chariot will arrive when it is time.
“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11 (KJV)
