For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.(2 Timothy 4:6-8)
The Apostle Paul finished strong. Tradition holds that his life and ministry ended in a Roman jail where he was executed as a martyr about 64/65 AD. You can be sure that from his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus until his final day, Paul never ceased telling people about Jesus Christ and His saving gospel; For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (2 Corinthians 2:2)
As we get older, our physical strength and mental acuitymay decline, forcing us to adjust our ministry in terms of the time and effort exerted. However, as Christians, our passion for serving the Lord and His people and proclaiming the gospel to others must continue if we are to finish strong; ...Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31b)
Sometimes the most productive service to the Lord happens in ones latter years. Moses was 80 years old when the Lord used him to confront Pharaoh. The Apostle John was in his late 80s or 90s when he wrote the book of Revelation while an exiled prisoner on the Isle of Patmos. Like all of the Apostles, he finished strong.
The last few miles of a 26 mile marathon are the most difficult (so I'm told). That's when the temptation to just quit is the greatest. The Christian's life and ministry are like a marathon and there will be temptations to stop fighting the good fight and not finish the course. But, in the strength of the Lord, we can finish strong to His glory and our eternal reward; His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave..." (Matthew 25:21a)