Aaron grew to be very fond to his big friend Peter.  He called him "Little Fish" as all Peter's friends teased him about the time he caught no fishes, and Jesus had told him to throw the net over the right side.   "And to think," laughed Peter, "The Master was a better fisherman than I!"  Aaron loved to go to Peter's house and spend many an afternoon listening to stories about Jesus.  He loved Jesus with all his heart and listened carefully as Peter shared with him all that Jesus had taught.

"Aaron," said Peter one day, "We are living in dangerous days and the Romans are starting to arrest any Christians they can find.  I want you to remember that Jesus said, 'I am with you always, even until the end of the world.'  We don't know what is going to happen and now that you are serving Jesus, you could also be arrested."

Aaron knew that some of Peter's friends had disappeared recently and that nobody knew what had happened to them "Don't worry, Peter," he replied, "I'll be very careful and remember that Jesus is always with me."

Some days later Aaron finished sweeping the steps of their house.   "Aaron," called Father, "Be very careful where you go today as there are many soldiers about."  Aaron replied, "But, I'm only going to play with my friends up the street."  His father cautioned, "All right, Son, but don't go far."

Aaron went outside into the street and looked carefully up and down the street.  It was very quiet and nobody was about.  So he ran towards his friends house thinking that they could play the new game of clay soldiers that they had tried yesterday.  As he ran, he pretended that he was a brave soldier and hit out right and left with an imaginary sword.  As he skidded round the corner, to his horror he bumped right into a fierce looking soldier.

"Sorry," mumbled Aaron as he tried to twist away from the grip of the soldier who grabbed him.  "I think you are one of them!  You're a Christian, aren't you?" growled the soldier.  Aaron thought about lying but remembered what Peter had taught him.  He nodded slowly and the gleeful soldier shouted, "This is my lucky day.  The centurion promised me a bag of coins for each Christian that I catch.  I've found nobody so far, but now I've caught you!"

With that, he grabbed poor Aaron by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to the town jail.   "Let me go, you monster!" cried Aaron as he fought to get loose.  But it was no use as the soldier was too strong.  Tears ran down his cheek as he was thrust into a dark dingy cell, only to trip and fall sprawling on the floor.  "Get up!" roared his captor and yanked him up and strapped him to rings set into the wall.

"Now where's Centurion so that I can claim my reward," chuckled the soldier, as he slammed the cell door closed.  Aaron's heart sank as he was left in the dark.  "Just you wait until he whips the hide off you, you little termite."  Aaron trembled as the mocking laugh faded as the soldier went down the passage.

Aaron felt his muscles strain as he struggled to remain on tiptoe with his arms stretched above his head.  As time passed, his strength weakened and the chains bit into his wrists as he sagged.  "Oh, Jesus," he prayed, "Please give me strength, just like Peter said you would in times of trouble."  Aaron was comforted as he seemed to hear a quiet voice reply, "For I am with you always ... even until the end of the world."

Many hours passed.  His heart began to pound as the sound of marching feet grew louder.  Suddenly, the door of the cell was thrown open.   "This is one of them," said the soldier, "I'm sure of it!"  "We will see," said the Centurion slowly drawing a whip out of his bag.  Aaron shuddered as he saw the glint of pieces of metal in the tails of the whip.  He struggled as the soldier ripped off his tunic and screamed when the whip bit into his back.

"Now confess," shouted the Centurion, "Are you a Christian?"  Aaron bit his lips as hard as he could.  But the unmerciful whipping went on.  At last he could stand it no more and blood streamed down his back.  "Yes, I am!" he whispered, "I am a Christian and I'm proud of it!"

The soldier turned triumphantly to the Centurion, "There!  I told you so, now you owe me a bag of coins!"  "Only a small bag," joked the Centurion as they locked Aaron again in the cell.  "He's only small and is not worth very much!"  They moved off with the soldier protesting that Aaron was worth a full bag of coins.

Aaron mercifully blacked out as pain racked his body.  Many days of pain passed until one day the Centurion came and ordered him out of the cell.  The soldiers dragged him out of the jail and bound his arms to the sides of a cart.  Many people booed at him as the cart rumbled through the streets towards the stadium.

When they arrived, the guard took him down an underground passage.  Aaron could hear crowds shouting their approval.  "What is going on?" he asked.  "Never you mind," came the reply, "You will find out soon enough!"  Aaron gave a cry of surprise as they thrust him into a cell.  "Grandfather!  What are you doing here?"

"I was arrested in town last week for preaching the Christian message," answered Grandfather, "They brought me here yesterday with other Christian prisoners."  "They caught me as well," said Aaron, "And the Centurion beat me with a whip."

"Why are we here?", asked Aaron as his Grandfather hugged him.  But Grandfather avoided answering him.  He did not want to tell him that Christians were being thrown to wild beasts because they believed in Jesus.  And worse of all, their cell was being reserved for the next feast day.

But Aaron soon learned what was happening in the stadium above them.   Christians were being made to fight starving lions.  As they removed prisoners from their cell, he and Grandfather prayed each time with tears running down their cheeks.  "Grandfather," said Aaron, "I had a strange experience while I was chained up in the town jail.  I thought I heard a voice which said 'For I am with you always ... even until the end of the world.'  Do you think it was real?"

Grandfather bent his face close to Aaron.  "My son," he said, "I am sure that you heard the voice of Jesus.  These are terrible times and Jesus promised that he would never leave us.  My time is coming soon and I want you to be brave."  Aaron did not understand, but Grandfather was praying that God would spare Aaron.

The next feast day came and with a heavy heart they heard the dreaded footsteps approaching.  The cell door was thrust open and a Centurion appeared.  "We only need one more!" he shouted as he glared into the cell.  "I think that boy will do," he said, pointing at Aaron.   Two soldiers grabbed Aaron and dragged him toward the door.

"No wait!" shouted Grandfather, "Rather take me!"  The Centurion turned back in surprise.  "You want to give your life for this useless youngster?" he asked.  "Yes," said Grandfather in a strong voice, "I'm old and will gladly give my life for his!"

"Right men, take him instead!" said the Centurion as he briskly marched out of the cell.  "Grandfather," wailed Aaron, "Don't leave me."  But the soldiers just pushed him aside in the passage as they led Grandfather out of the cell and down to the arena.  A soldier then led Aaron to the gate.  "You can go now," he said, "Just make sure we don't catch you again or it will be your turn next."

Aaron sadly made his way home.  "How could Grandfather give his life for me?" he thought.  He did not understand how his Grandfather could have been so brave.

"Father," he cried as he opened the door to his house, "I'm safe!"  The family sadly listened as Aaron told them what had happened to him.  "God has spared you for a purpose," said Father, "You will be able to help many Christians who fear for their lives as the Romans persecute us."

 And Aaron did.  He went on to tell many people what had happened to him, and how God had saved him.  He told them how brave his Grandfather had been and how he had died in his place.  Just like Jesus died for each of us on the cross.  He also told them about the voice that said "For I am with you always, even until the end of the world."

And you dear child, would you like to know this same Jesus?  He said that He would never leave us, and that He will be with us until the end of our lives.  Jesus is right here today and is waiting for you.  No matter what circumstance's God will allow you to be in, Jesus will always be with you.  Will you ask Him to come into your life today so that He can be your Friend and Saviour?

God bless!