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| Millie's Whisper |
The Pope got some
folks all hot-and-bothered when the media quoted him as saying, “Heaven is open
to all creatures.” It does turn out, though, that perhaps an earlier Pope, Paul
VI, actually made such a statement about pets and Heaven, “One day we will
again see our animals in the eternity of Christ,” talking to a young boy who
had lost a beloved pet, and the media got a bit confused on who said what when.
Either way, a kind Pope acknowledged at least
the possibility of seeing our companion animals again in Heaven, giving comfort
to companion animal lovers everywhere.
I’ll
go with that.
I’m
not known for being absolutely logical on the subject, of course. One friend,
now a minister, said to me some years ago (well, it gets more years ago each
week that passes, it seems), “You have animals in your life where people should
be.” A kind, good man, I didn’t argue—but, he missed a major point. I wanted to
say, “What if God knew I would not have people in some places that need
companionship—and gave me animals?” I didn’t, because some people just cannot
fathom that sentence.
But,
then, usually they have people in such places in their lives—not that it’s an
either/or situation.
Back
to Heaven….I don’t understand why folks get so upset when the thought of our
pets in Heaven comes up. In the Bible, animals showed up in the Paradise of Eden
before Adam. And, he got a job right off the bat: “Go name the animals.” You have to wonder how
“Duck-billed Platypus” came to him, although, really, what else could you call
it? People get all worked up over that “subdue the Earth” thing. Really, God just
said, “Take really, really good and wise care of the world.” In the end, Adam
didn’t do so well on his own, even with his little garden spot….ok, he and Eve
didn’t. But, that perfect Garden, man’s original home, Paradise on Earth, was
chock-a-block full of animals. Perhaps a redeemed Earth will closely resemble that
Paradise Lost, full of lush garden growth and animals happily learning each
other’s names.
We
know horses stand at the ready in Heaven. Revelation 19 shows Christ riding
into battle on his white stallion! What a picture, Christ on his steed, diadems
on his head, the sword of His Word coming from His mouth, leading His armies, all
themselves astride white horses as they follow him to the final defeat of evil!
Pretty
intricate descriptions of predatory animals coexisting with prey animals—and
NOT after they have been prepared for dinner—exist in Scripture. Isaiah 11 talks about a wolf and a
young lamb together, a leopard lying with a young goat, and a calf together
with a young lion—all being led by a young boy. Even in Heaven, children and
animals fit naturally, as unnaturally as the other seems.
And,
still, some people proclaim, “No animals in Heaven!”
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| Heavenly Ghost Ryder & Tripp |
Far
more frightening than real animals in Heaven, I believe, those angels flying around
God’s throne—not those little cupid creatures, made up to sell cards on
Valentine’s Day—but, reading their descriptions, mighty creatures crying out “HOLY!!
HOLY!!” as they fly, covering their faces in awe; learning of warrior angels
like Michael (“Whose side are you on?” Joshua asked. “God’s side, Dufus.” Well,
okay, not Dufus, but it’s [kind of] implied--and Joshua wound up barefoot from the deal); just seeing what Gabriel did when
he got perturbed at Zacharias (he made him mute for several months at least
when Zacharias doubted what Gabriel said would happen, would—until it did)—that
scares me way more than the thought of a few cats and dogs running around in
Heaven. (By the way, Michael shows up again in Revelation Chapter 12 fighting
again; WAY scarier than the horses, in my opinion).
The
issue, of course, involves eternal souls and a fallen world. Animals do not get
redemption from Christ like humans do—they don’t have that need because they
don’t choose to disobey God. When Christ
paid for redemption, His redemption covered all Earth…certainly the Cross that
could redeem a fallen humanity that chose to disobey God contains ample power to return
to us in Heaven the pets we have lost. Most people agree the world needs
changing. Why redemption shouldn’t include the whole shebang—people, animals,
plants, oceans, air--escapes me. Does anyone believe if Jesus showed up at any
given city animal shelter, every single cat, dog, rabbit, guinea pig, well,
every animal there would not recognize Him? “Oh, there You are! Finally! Is our
work done here? Are we going home now?” It hasn’t happened yet, of course,
because He’s not back yet. (Yes, I’m one of those folks, too. I’m just all over
the map—upsetting one group by animals in Heaven, another group waiting for
Christ’s return. Well, keep ‘em guessing; that’s my motto).
I don’t know for
sure, of course, if when I step into Heaven and into the presence of God that
my beloved companion animals who have loved me here and gone before me will
meet me there. I hope so. I want so. And, someday—at a point in time barreling
down on me faster than I can truly comprehend, I’ll understand it all
firsthand.
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| Heavenly Millie |
But,
this I do know—and I don’t know a lot, but there but a very, very few things I
KNOW--as the pastor told the little boy whose beloved dog had passed away and
who came seeking comfort and knowledge about where his friend was now, “If you
will be happier in Heaven with him there, then he will be there.” Heaven lacks no good and perfect thing. And,
when we all find out the truth of this for sure—as with so many other “major”
issues about which we fight (and, yes, there are issues about which to fight,
but, really, pets in Heaven?)—we will look at each other and say, “Why did we
get so upset about this?”
Because,
a loving God Who can make so perfect a creature as a companion dog in the first
place can certainly be trusted to take care of all of them (and us) in the
end…..and the beginning.
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| MacIntosh--Waiting for Sure |
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