I was five years old when I recognised and responded to the Lord's rightful claim on my life. Many people do not recognise that a child so young is capable of making such a decision - they are wrong and I am testimony to the fact. (Be encouraged and challenged, all you who serve Him in children's work! You have both a high honour and responsibility.)

One Sunday evening, when I was at church and listening to the sermon, it became so real to me that I did not have Jesus in my heart and that when we die there are two places that we can go to - heaven, or hell. Now I don't know exactly what hell will be like, but I do know that it will be a place without Jesus, God will not be there and the Bible tells us that God is love. Therefore, there will be no love in hell. What a terrible existence to be stuck in an eternity without love! People complain about the awful state society is in with its problems of hatred and lawlessness, and yet this is a place where God's love can be seen daily! What hell will be like with its total absence of God and His love I cannot and do not wish to imagine. It often saddens me deeply when I hear someone who has lost a loved one pass up on  the invitation  of  heaven  that Christ makes by saying, 'I want to be with them, and if they are not in heaven I don't want to be there either.' My friend, there is no love in hell.

That Sunday night at the mere age of five, I felt such an urgency to make myself right with God, I questioned my Mum about it whilst she tucked me in bed. She explained that all I needed to do was to ask Jesus into my life, to ask forgiveness for all my wrong doings and to ask Him to help me to live for Him. I did this there and then with my Mum and over and over again on my own until I fell asleep; I wanted to be sure He had heard me. Of course He had heard me the first time!

And so began my journey through life as a precious child of God. I don't know where that journey will take me, what troubles, tribulations and joys I may encounter, but I do know that I don't travel it alone. Thankfully our life here on earth is not the end goal, we are just passing through, but ask yourself the most important question you could ever ask, 'Where will your destination be?' I know mine will be heaven. Praise the Lord!

Mark 10:13-16 (In verse 15 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.")

Siân-Marie Harrison