Babies and Pets and Suicide, Oh My!

Opening & Intro

What is next? Can we really know what life after this life will be like?

These are big questions.

The answer is no not really. We can’t know completely it is is absolutely is going to be like. BUT!!!!

There are some good hints and clues that will can give us a pretty good idea.

So will I stand up here and say THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE VIEW OF HEAVEN AND YOU MUST BELIEVE ME!!!

No, I am going to make a case for the most likely option of what heaven is going to be based on Scripture.

We are going to talk about babies and young children, our favourite pets, and what we will do for eternity.

Prety light stuff right?

Main Point

God is the giver of good things and full of Justice.

Why Does it Matter

This matters because when we think of out eternal resting place it helps to have a clearer picture of what that is. If we have a skwed picture of it then how will we get excited about it and in turn live for it? It maters.

2 Weeks ago - Think on things above

Last week - It is a physical place with physical features and we will recognize each other.

This week - What will we do and who will be there. Ready?

Scripture

Romans 3:23 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 Timothy 2:5 NIV

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

I can’t point to a specific scriture here that says that babies and young children got o heaven. In fact I can’t really prove it scripturally at all. BUT I hold that they DO infact go to heaven and are saved. based on 2 things:

Jesus says we have to become like these children to enter heaven and;

God shows, time and time again special favour toward children. Let’s see.

Matthew 18:3–10 NIV

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

That is pretty clear. It is better to kill yourself than to lead a child astray.

Psalm 8:2 NIV

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalm 22:10 NIV

From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Matthew 7:9–11 NIV

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

With all that I think it is safe to say Children are safely in the care of God.

I like to throw another touchy subject in here as well. Pets.

The stance of Church for generations is that your pets are not in heaven. My challange to that is, WHY NOT?

Were animals a part of the first creation before we broke it? Were relationship part of creation before we broke it? Yes. Look.

Genesis 1:24 NIV

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so.

If animals were there then why wouldn’t they be in the nw Heaven and Earth?

And check this out about God.

James 1:17 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

If God loves us and he is a good gift giver not just a good gift giver but a perfect gift giver then why is it impossible that your beloved pet wouldn’t be able to join you for eternity? Soul or not. Are we saying God CAN’T do it? Or that he won’t???

Where does it say in scripture that they won’t be there? Where is the difinitive proof that pets just stop existing and can’t possibly be there for us?

It isn’t there. And look at this.

Romans 8:20–21 NIV

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

It wasn’t the animals that sinned. They are a part of creation. It isn’t salvation for them it is salvation for us and all creation.

So, I choose to believe that our pets will likey be there waiting for us because…why not?

WHat about relationships?

Will I still be married to my wife? What about my grandmother who married two christian men. both have died. WHo is she married to?

I think we are created to be in relationship with each other. We see in genesis that family was always a part of creation even before the fall.

So, it may look a little different but relationships are an important part of the created order. We are created to be in relationship with God and with each other.

Genesis 2:18 NIV

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

1 John 4:7 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

While I can’t tell you exactly what thigns will liook like. I do believe I will know my grandparents and anyone who went on ahead of me. Beyond that, I can’t say but I think that is enough. To know they are there.

Application

So, Heaven IS a place we can think about. There is a lot of evidence as to what the nature of Heaven is going to be and it is rooted in God’s Justice and faithfulness to his creation. I believe all of this to be true.

Closing

These last 3 weeks were meant to insire you to dream about what it will be like. Look deeper at the promise we have from God and at who God promises to be. He is faithful and just and the giver of godd gifts and the saviour of creation.

Let’s not think he is a miser who wants us to give everything up. He wants us to experience joy to its fullest and live in the creation he intened for us. That is pretty awesome.