Do Dogs Go To Heaven?

 

The children begged for a hamster, and after all the vows were given to take care of it, they got one. They named it “Danny.” Two months later, when mom found herself responsible for the creature, she found a prospective new home for it. The children took the imminent departure of Danny quit well, remarking, “He’s been around here a long time. We’ll miss him.” Mom replied, “Yes, but he’s too much work for one person, and since I’m that one person, I say he goes.” Another child said, “Well, maybe if he didn’t eat so much and wouldn’t be so messy, we could keep him.” But mom was firm. “It’s time to take Danny to his new home now,” she insisted. “Go get his cage.” With one voice and in tearful outrage the children shouted, “DANNY? We thought you said “DADDY!”

Every year on October 4, a growing number of churches involve themselves in a “blessing of the animals” service. This “blessing of the animals” is rooted in the Roman Catholic Church as a part of observing “Saint Francis of Assisi Day.” However, in more recent times, more and more protestant churches have picked up the practice of “blessing their pets.” A recent announcement of such “animal blessing” came about stating that “Pastor So-in-So” would bless your pets if you bring them to church on Sunday morning. And, if your pet has died, if you bring a picture of the deceased pet, he will also bless your dead pets as well. Of course, there much that could be said about this, but I want to restrict my comments to this question, “Do animals go to heaven when they die?” Consider this:

It was man who was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), and the rest of God’s creation was contrasted with the creation of man. Man differs from the rest of God’s creation in that he has been given an undying spirit that returns to God upon death (Acts 7:59). When an animal dies, there is no immortal part that survives the death of its body.

Think of the implications. When asking this question, we typically have in mind our beloved pets. But does God only give “pets” immortality, or does He give all animals immortality? If the former, what scripture teaches this – and if the latter, then all the mosquitoes, flies, leeches, and maggots that have ever lived, from the time of Adam until now, will be joining us in heaven as well. That’s just not what people are usually thinking about when they affirm animals will join us in heaven, but that’s the logical end.

More implications. If both men and animals are immortal, then why is man not allowed to kill his fellow man (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22), but he is commanded to rise, kill, and eat animals (Acts 10:13)? Surely, it’s because man and animals are different. Man was created in the image of God, and animals were not.

[Hebrews 12:13-16] Heaven is a place of reward for faithful living (Matthew 5:11-12). It is a place of redemption for “just men made perfect”. Consequently, animals don’t qualify. Animals do not possess the ability to comprehend mortality, and if they do, well… does that mean some animals will be in Hell as well?

Personally, I’m an animal lover, and I’m thankful to God for creating animals, especially pets, to be our companions as we live here on earth. I’ve also suffered at the loss of several of my pets and know the hurt that can be associated with that. But as for any hope of seeing them again in Heaven, the Bible, which is the only source of information we have about Heaven, provides no evidence that animals will live forever, let alone, live in Heaven with us forever. I guess we’ll have to wait to see.

Whatever the trial, God sees; Whatever your struggle, God knows; Whatever your cry, God hears; Whatever your difficulty, God cares; Whatever your problem, He understands. Whatever your need, God provides.

It's Only A Minute

 

“Last call for Henderson and Hernandez.” It was eleven minutes until the plane was scheduled to depart. At ten minutes till departure, the airline released the seats for this party of two and allowed two passengers who had been victims of an oversell to board in their place. At nine minutes before departure, Henderson and Hernandez arrived at the gate. They were business colleagues and had been swallowed up by the long security lines at the terminal entrance that everyone has to navigate before entering the passenger area. They were livid. They were in disbelief. They threatened - using foul language. They pleaded. They were reminded of the airline policy, to which they responded, “But we were only one minute late!” How much damage, how much loss, how many tragic things have happened at the excuse, “Just a Minute?” Oh, I know that we all procrastinate. And most often the effect or impact on our life or the lives of others is minimal. But in some cases that one minute can mean the difference between life or death, Heaven or Hell. Had they been here sooner, had he done that quicker, had they simply looked in the right direction; these are statements that most of us have made at some time or another. And if life came with a guarantee of tomorrow then it really would be of little concern for one minute would simply follow another. But we all know better.

What delayed Henderson and Hernandez causing them to miss their flight? Did wake-up call fail? An auto accident? Did they get lost? That could explain things. Or, they could have waited too long to leave the hotel or failed to leave themselves the time needed to encounter the TSA terror. But one thing is certain, their tardiness kept them from boarding their flight. What keeps us from success? What will keep us from Heaven? They were going to do what they should, but they didn’t get around to it in time! That has pertinence in our daily schedules and our overall success. It has relevance to whether or not we go to Heaven. Do not decide to live for Jesus even one minute too late!

[Philippians 2:9-11] One of the most sobering songs sung in worship is “Almost Persuaded” by P.P. Bliss. The wording is drawn from the apostle Paul’s conversation with King Agrippa in Acts 26, with the idea that many will come remarkably close to becoming a Christian but will tragically decide that Jesus is Lord too late. Have you ever wondered who will be the last person deliberating the decision to become a Christian (a follower of Christ) when the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise? Why do we delay? And at what cost do we procrastinate?

(James 2:13-14) “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James teaches that we do not know what tomorrow will bring much less the next minute. That one minute you had to do that good deed for another could be the only door that will open for that good thing you intended to do. That one minute you had to obey the gospel may be the last opportunity you have. I am persuaded that one of the devil’s greatest tools for our eternal destruction is when he gets us to “JUST WAIT A MINUTE.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3) “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall have no escape.” The Christian actually looks forward to the Lord’s return – not as a thief but as a Savior to rescue us from this sinful world. (Revelation 22:12-15) Lord come.