2026 is the year I became old.

It’s not that old age arrived suddenly. I knew it was there, but it’d been a soundtrack playing in the background. It had a volume control — I had just turned down the volume. Then this year happened. Retirement. My 50th high school reunion. My advancing age, having been little more than background music, now was being broadcast through loudspeakers. Imagine 1970s cabinet speakers, the vintage JBL L100s with the orange foam grills.

Most would agree that old age is relative, since people perceive it differently. If you knew my age, you might not think of me as old. I’m on the younger side of old—which means just old enough to notice that I’m getting old. I am an apprentice old person. Not old-old, but old-ish.

The blessing of growing older is that the older I get, the clearer my sense of purpose becomes, and the more I realize that I’m not done yet.

There’s a verse that God has given me for this season of life — Acts 20:24, “But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”(CSB)

Paul had one clear goal—to finish well.

He didn’t simply hope to finish well. He planned to finish well. He made a commitment to finish well. No one finishes well by accident. Finishing well demands intentionality.

In Acts 20:24, Paul used five key words that are essential for finishing well:

1. Value — “But I consider my life of no value to myself”

Paul’s priority in his final stretch was not self-preservation or comfort (vv. 22-23). He recognized the greater value of faithful obedience to the call of Christ.  

2. Purpose — “my purpose is to finish my course”

Paul had a clear purpose. If I am to be like Paul, then the right question is not “What have I accomplished?” but “Why am I still here?”

3. Ministry — “… and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus”

Here, the question is not, “What do I want to do with my life?” Rather, “What has Jesus entrusted me to do with my life?”

4. Gospel — “… to testify to the gospel”

The gospel was the driving force of Paul’s ministry. It was worth living for, suffering for, even dying for. Keeping the gospel at the center of our lives enables us to keep our eyes fixed on the right goals and remain faithful to the end.

5. Grace — “… the gospel of God’s grace”

The gospel to which Paul testified was the gospel of grace. It is God’s grace that saves the sinner, and it is His grace that sustains the servant. If I’m to finish well, it will not be by my own ability but by the sustaining grace of God. 

What about you—

• What matters most?

• Why are you still here?

• What has Christ entrusted to you?

• What message do you have to proclaim?

• What are you depending on to sustain you?