Do Pets Go To Heaven
Do Pets Go To Heaven
Will I Ever See Wormtail Again?
After doing a search on the internet concerning our pets going to Heaven, there are just as many sites that say they won’t go to Heaven as there are that says our pets will and do go to Heaven.
I posed the question to my pastor, and he gave me a book to read called Heaven by Randy Alcorn. However, whether our pets go to Heaven or not is really not the first question. We first have to be right with the Lord and we must be sure that we are going to Heaven, for if we aren’t then it doesn’t matter our if pets go to Heaven or not.
There is no definite answer to this but I do firmly believe that I will see my little Wormtail kitty again. So, will we ever see our pets again? What does Scripture say about animals? Look at Revelation 21:5-"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Again in Romans 19:22 it says, "One day all creation will be liberated and transformed." The first passage says everything, the second says all. Christ's emphasis isn't on making new things but on making old things new. Christ isn't saying, "I will just make people new", He is saying everything which has to include animals. Like humans, animals were formed from the ground. "now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all birds of the air (Genesis 2:19). When God breathed a spirit into Adam's body, made from the earth, Adam became a nephesh, a "living being" or "soul". (Genesis2:7) The Hebrew word nephesh is used for animals and for people. We are told that not only people, but animals have "the breath of life" in them. (Genesis 1:30)
If Scripture is to be believed, then people and animals both have a "soul". Animals do not have a human soul but a non-human soul. In Psalm 104 v.24 it states, “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures and v.25 says, There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-living things both large and small and in v.29-30 it says When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath they die and return to the dust, When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” These verses doesn’t talk about just humans but all creatures which has to include our pets (animals).
In his short life, my little Wormtail gave so much love and joy to me. Why do so many people find companionship and joy in their pets? Is it because of sin or is it because of how God has made animals, and us. That’s why the question of whether our pets will be in Heaven is not, as some assume, stupid. Animals aren’t nearly as valuable as people, but God is their Maker and has touched many people’s lives through them. Remember that He is the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them. If having our pets restored to life would be pleasing to us, that would be reason enough for God to restore our pet. God loves us and wants us to be happy.
From the book mentioned above, many people grieve deeply when their pets die and some are embarrassed or even ashamed at this. Their loss is great, and they long for hope that they’ll see their pets again. If we regard pets as God created companions entrusted to our care, it’s only right that we should experience grief at their loss. Who made these endearing qualities in animals? God. Who made us be touched by them? God. We love animals because God created us, and them, to love each other.
We have all heard of stories about pets doing heroic deeds or risking their lives and even dying to save their owners. Why do they do this and give their lives instead of saving themselves? The only answer is God, who created them that way. Once again, God’s love is shown through them.
The Bible is full of Scripture referring to animals and God and everyone is going to have their own opinion if we will ever see our pets again and this is just my opinion. Why do I have such a strong belief that I will see Wormtail again? It’s really simple. I fully believe that Christ died for me and that He was resurrected so I might live again. If He did that for me, a sinner, He would do it for my little Wormtail, who was without sin. He is a God of love and would show His love by doing this for me.
The purpose of me writing this is not to start a debate about whether our pets go to Heaven or not because that is really a personal decision, but just to share with you my feelings about this.