...my computer screen saver just put on a picture of my dog. He died after I had graduated and I remember thinking that he’d lived 16 to 18 years, I forget for sure now. But it is very easy to figure that I’d had him for most of my life up to that date. I remember the last time I saw him. It was winter and he was dying. His front paw had gone numb and was of no use. He gnawed on it. I lay in the snow beside him and talked to him, knowing that he would not likely be there the next time I came home. Pastor Bill once talked about his and Michelle’s cat and about heavenly rewards. Ever since then, when I see a picture of my dog I wonder and hope.
I don’t believe that animals have souls. They were created by God and He considered them good but He did not make them in His image as we are. We are to take care of them, use them for various reasons (yes, including food), and always we should respect them. However, they are not the equals of humans. Still, they are a wonderful gift from a creator who loves us and our hearts can open up to animals much the same way they do to humans. I miss my dog. I sometimes dream about him still and every time I do, I look at him in my dream and I know he’s gone.
So I think about heavenly rewards. Most people when they think about that probably are thinking of stature or heavenly duties. I do too but I can’t help wonder about more personal rewards. I, frankly, am quite content knowing that I just get to go. I don’t expect much in the reward category cause lets face it, I know me. The whole not burning for eternity is a miracle in itself. One I’m very grateful for. But if I could put in for a personal reward, something my loving God has waiting just for me, it would be three animals: two of my dogs and one of my cats. Now I joke that God has given me a strong liking for white tigers, so maybe I get one of those too, but if I had to choose, those three animals of my youth would win hands down.
I don’t know if it works that way but I do know that if God says so it can. I know that when that day comes I will see my savior first of all. No greater gift is there. I long to have Him look into my eyes and say my name. God’s only Son, my savior, speaking my name. Wow. Then there will be family. My dad. I miss my dad. There will be saints through the ages and biblical characters I can’t wait to meet. I will not be surprised but I will be excited if there comes a time that I get one more gift and there are the animals that God entrusted to me on earth to have for eternity. If that’s not an option, that’s okay. I’m just sayin, wouldn’t that just be cool…
I don’t believe that animals have souls. They were created by God and He considered them good but He did not make them in His image as we are. We are to take care of them, use them for various reasons (yes, including food), and always we should respect them. However, they are not the equals of humans. Still, they are a wonderful gift from a creator who loves us and our hearts can open up to animals much the same way they do to humans. I miss my dog. I sometimes dream about him still and every time I do, I look at him in my dream and I know he’s gone.
So I think about heavenly rewards. Most people when they think about that probably are thinking of stature or heavenly duties. I do too but I can’t help wonder about more personal rewards. I, frankly, am quite content knowing that I just get to go. I don’t expect much in the reward category cause lets face it, I know me. The whole not burning for eternity is a miracle in itself. One I’m very grateful for. But if I could put in for a personal reward, something my loving God has waiting just for me, it would be three animals: two of my dogs and one of my cats. Now I joke that God has given me a strong liking for white tigers, so maybe I get one of those too, but if I had to choose, those three animals of my youth would win hands down.
I don’t know if it works that way but I do know that if God says so it can. I know that when that day comes I will see my savior first of all. No greater gift is there. I long to have Him look into my eyes and say my name. God’s only Son, my savior, speaking my name. Wow. Then there will be family. My dad. I miss my dad. There will be saints through the ages and biblical characters I can’t wait to meet. I will not be surprised but I will be excited if there comes a time that I get one more gift and there are the animals that God entrusted to me on earth to have for eternity. If that’s not an option, that’s okay. I’m just sayin, wouldn’t that just be cool…
