Pets in Heaven?
His Comments
Her Comments
Scripture:
Thoughts:
Recently my family lost one of our furry family members, a miniature pincher by the name of Bella. She was the watchman of the family, having the attitude of a ravenous honey badger packed into her 6lb body. After her passing, my wife asked me if Bella went to heaven. When she asked me that, I recalled a recent conversation with my brother. He had asked, “Do pets go to Heaven?” He said he was in line and overheard two people having a passionate conversation about the topic, each with a differing opinion. Today, my wife and I will address the question, “Do our pets go to Heaven?”
When my wife chose the passages from Matthew 10 for the focus of this devotion, I immediately thought about Genesis 1, Isaiah 11, and a few others from Revelation and Hosea. There are passages that refer to God’s creation, God’s creatures, and passages that talk about what the world will be like upon Christs’ return. I think, from scripture, a good case can be made for the existence of animals upon the Restoration. The issue with a question like “Will my pet be in Heaven?” brings with it the idea of a specific animal. I do not see where God has revealed that answer, so we cannot say our specific pet will be in Heaven, but we cannot say it will not.
We must be careful not to make a positive assertion based on an absence of evidence. It is better to say, “we do not know” then to say, “scripture doesn’t tell us, so yes!” Despite not being able to address a specific pet or animal, we do see in Genesis 1 when God made the animals of the earth, God declares it as good. We are told in Psalm 24 that the earth and everything in it is the Lords, so we have a responsibility to care for and not neglect what God has provided.
In Matthew 10, we have reference to God overseeing all animals, and we are reminded in Matthew 6 that we are more valued than they are. We read in Isaiah the idea that there will be peace upon Restoration, and that scripture uses the mention of animals to make that case. Animals that are currently at odds with one another, upon Restoration, will be a peace. In Revelation, John mentions all creatures, not just humans, will praise God, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Hosea points to the covenant we have in Christ by referring to animals and the abolishment of instruments that bring about their death. I believe these references point to animals being present upon Restoration.
While I cannot say for sure if our pets go to Heaven, I do have hope that I will see little Bella guarding treats and chasing our cats during eternity.
Recently, a pet that I had for over 13 years passed away. As I mourned her loss, I was again challenged with the thought of what happens to our loved furbabies when they die. This has been a question many have struggled with. Pop culture has addressed this issue many times through cinema with popular movies like Pet Sematary and All Dogs Go to Heaven. However, what does the Bible say?
The truth is that the Bible does not say what happens to animals when they die. However, this does not mean that God does not love animals. In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus talks about how God knows when each sparrow falls to the ground. This shows that God is aware and watches over all of His creation.
In fact, man was told to watch over the animals of the World. In Genesis 1:26, God gives man dominion over animals. While it is true that God allows man to use animals as food and livestock, this verse also states that man is supposed to be the caretaker of animals. This shows the care and love God has for all His creation and the responsibility man has to treat animals with respect. Even animals that are used for food or materials should be treated with respect. We should show compassion and care. (Except for snakes and spiders, haha … I do not know what God was thinking when he created them.) I am kidding, of course. We have the responsibility of keeping our family safe, but even animals that could kill us should be handled as humanely as possible.
Let’s go back to the original question, what about my furbaby? Well, God gives us animals to sustain our hunger and physical needs, but we are also given animals as companions. There are many excerpts in the Bible where God explains the love and care animals give us and vice versa. We see an example of animal companionship in 2 Samuel 12:3. Nathan tells David the story about a poor man who has a small lamb that he loved like a daughter, but it was killed by a rich man. This enraged David. We find out this story was shared with Daniel to teach him a lesson, but it also showed us how animals can be loved and seen as more than a resource for food, clothing and sacrifice. While animals are not perfect companions as a man is to a wife, the Bible in this instance does show the valid love an owner can have for their pet.
Animals were not made in God’s image. Therefore, they do not have the same expectations as men do. If an animal attacks a man, we do not take that animal to court. So, when our loving pet dies, does it cease to exist? We are not told what God has in store for our pets after death. Scripture tells us that those who believe in Christ get a dwelling place in Heaven. I like to believe that my furbabies are waiting for me there. I also know that there will be a new Eden where man will live in harmony again with God’s creation. Maybe our beloved pets will roam around that land of Eden. Again, while we are on this side of Heaven, we do not know. God is just and perfect and He always has been. Once we are in Heaven, we will have a deeper understanding, and it is OK that we need to wait.
Thoughts for this week:
Take time and enjoy the blessings God provides, including the furry friends we often take for granted. We are to be good stewards of God’s creation, which includes the animals of the earth. How do you care for the animals you love and the ones you dislike? Are you giving them a level of respect and teaching your children to do the same? When they are put down, are you doing so in a humane way? How will you answer God when he asks how you have used your dominion over His creation, that He declared good?
God Bless.