Christian Living

IS YOUR DOG NOW IN HEAVEN

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
01/14/19
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Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals." (Psalm 36:6)

Probably each of us, at some point in life, have experienced the loss of a pet. And yes, it is all right, and perfectly human, to grieve over those lost pets. So we have the age-old question, "Is my pet waiting for me in heaven?"

This age-old question has been debated forever by some of the most renowned theologians.  According to the blog "Do Pets Go to Heaven, Moira Anderson Allan, M.E.D, gives the following personal opinion:

"My own personal view on this question is that, just as humans are redeemed through the love of God, pets may possibly be "redeemed" through our love. The scripture speaks of the sanctification of a household through an individual; while it may be stretching a point to suppose that this household might include pets, it's not a completely illogical stretch.” (I Cor. 7:12-14)

More to the point, I believe that God uses pets to help humans learn about love. From pets, we learn mercy, compassion, patience, and understanding -- and we also learn what it means to receive unconditional love. If pets are a means by which we are taught about love, must we assume that once we have learned the lesson, we must then be forced to lose that love forever? Shall we assume that God, the author of love, has so little compassion for us that He first gives us pets to love, and then tells us, "Yes, well, I know that you really loved that little dog or precious cat I sent your way, but rules are rules"?

We know that God made mankind  in His own image (Genesis 1:27) to rule over all the creatures. (Genesis 1:26) And in (Genesis 1:24-25,30) not only do we see God creating the various breeds of animals, He saw that they were good and gave them food. Then God instructed Adam to name all the animals. (Genesis 2:19-20)

The created beasts mentioned probably included the wolf, which was the predecessor of  the modern domestic dog So, if God thought the animals were good, who are we to dispute with Him?

So please allow this bit of personal family dog narration, in justification of our K9  companionship.  As you can probably infer from this blog, all our family are avid dog lovers.  Growing up from childhood to adulthood, I have had many pet dogs, some purebred and some not so pure.

My first dog, named Annie, a pure white Spitz had the same birthday as myself. I don't remember much about her, other than we celebrated the same sixth birthday. 

Our daughter and her husband often bring their little golden doodle when visiting. Reggie is a quite loveable little pet.  He is very active and likes to explore the unknown areas around our home. However, when he gets ready for his good behavior dog biscuit award from his adopted Pa-Paw (me), he will sit patiently waving his paw in trust. Yes, I sometimes sneak him two treats.     

Our other daughter's little toy poodle Bear is a real cuddly dog. He too likes to explore at times.  When given his treats, he will run around the house, crying, holding the treat in his mouth in search of a good hiding place in which to hide the treat. Oftentimes, he will go back and eat the treat, but sometimes he forgets where he hides them. Yes, Bear is just a big baby when it comes to cuddling with the family.

Our grandson and his wife also have one loyal pet an affectionate, lovable cat Javy (taken from an ex-Alabama football star player, Javier Arenas)  This little cat always bids for attention over our two great grandsons.

All of these little defenseless animals have unconditional love extended to us. So I also agree with M.A. Allen that we oftentimes do learn about the love of God from our pets. You see, our dogs don't care what our day was like or what may have gone wrong. They are always ready just to jump into our laps and give us that big slobbery kiss. Their sheer joy will always make us forget that bad day.

So, will I see my pet dog in heaven? Another way to ask this question is, "Will there be animals in heaven?" And the answer is yes to the latter. You see, God's original creation was polluted through sin. However, God will at some point restore creation to its original sinless intent, which includes animals. (Romans 8:20-21). 

Just as animals were a part of God's sinless beginning creation, so shall it be with His new heaven and earth, an earth without corruption, sin and death, and yes, with animals too. (Isaiah 11:6) (Isaiah 11:7-9) (Isaiah 65:25)

So, what about our pets, will they be included in the population of Heaven’s animals? We must be very careful not seek a definitive answer here, because there is none. The rule of thumb, when the Bible is silent on a particular issue, we have the right to choose an answer that comforts us. We don't have to accept someone else's viewpoint. When God is silent, the issue is left up to us to decide in our own hearts and minds. So I choose to enjoy life with my pet dogs as long as possible. Then when I get to heaven, if my pets aren't there, I'll just adopt one of God's animals.   

Author's Postscript

The following comment is given by the well know pastor, David Jeremiah. "The Bible does not clearly state whether we will see our pets again in heaven, but there are Scriptures that suggest the presence of animals in heaven.

In Isaiah 11:6 we are told that during the millennium reign of Jesus on earth, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.” A similar scene is painted later in Isaiah 65:25. It’s clear there will be animals on earth during the millennium and that predator and prey will live in harmony.”

“Later, John gives us a glimpse of heaven in Revelation 19:11, 14: “Now I saw heavens opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war… And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Jesus and His armies will ride white horses to capture Satan and the false prophet and cast them into the lake of fire forever.”

“It seems pretty clear that there will be animals in heaven. Whether the ones
we loved on earth will be there is uncertain. Whatever the case, we know the character of God and His love for us. He gives “good gifts to those who ask” (Matthew 7:11) and “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (I Timothy 6:17). Heaven will be a place or joy and peace and the richest of blessings as we live in the presence of God and enjoy His good gifts for eternity."

And in her excellent book, Holiness in Hidden Places, Joni Eareckson Tada says, "If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn't surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with his generous character … Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace. Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures Heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy—utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous. … Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness of joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on his children."

So, we needn't be embarrassed to want to be with our pets in Heaven, as God is the Creator of all living beings and God loves us all. We know that it's God's eternal plan to restore us from the bondage of sin. Then we have Biblical grounds for not only wanting but also expecting that our pets may be with us again on the New Earth.

In a poem about the world to come, theologian John Piper writes:

And as I knelt beside the brook
To drink eternal life, I took
A glance across the golden grass,
And saw my dog, old Blackie, fast
As she could come. She leaped the stream—
Almost—and what a happy gleam
Was in her eye. I knelt to drink
And knew that I was on the brink
Of endless joy. And everywhere
I turned I saw a wonder there.

Well, are you now convinced that your four-legged family member may be waiting for you in Heaven? So be it. Just relax and relish those many enjoyable memories.   

The most important question, however, is "Will you be in heaven?” It would be pointless to ponder the issue of your pets if you yourself are not there. So, won't you make certain of that today? You see, as for your pets being in Heaven or not, the only way to find out is to be there yourself. Amen!

  My dog and I walk hand in hand together
As this world comes alive
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
While compassion does survive
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
As time and space erodes
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
Amidst life's roughest roads
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
Up and down eternity's path
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
In the sunlight for a bath
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
With a taste of Heaven's bliss
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
Nothing forward to remiss
My dog and I walk hand in hand together
At rest in God's sweet arms
My dog and I walk hand in hand together.

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