I
believe that the telling of Nathan’s sad story to King David of a pet owner losing his pet
unjustly is a factual account, not a fictitious one. Some interpreters
think it was a made-up story like the parables of Jesus. For me, I always questioned why would
Yahweh make things up anyway? He is, after all, all-knowing
(omniscient) and all-wise (omnisapient)! The idea of having pets both in the
Old and New Testament is not only plausible but just plain sensible.
What
is more impactful to you, a made-up story or a true one? Not to mention, along
with people having pets, way back when, that man’s heart is the same today as it
was after Adam’s fall; this is one of the very reasons why the Bible remains
relative and pertinent throughout the ages. In other words, man’s heart is the
same in the past, present, and future this side of eternity. Passion for pets
is a timeless thing.
I
want to believe that our pets will be there in glory with us, but I am being kind
of selfish. I had two other orange and white tabbies in my life, both named
Roger and of late Bentley, a white Bengal, who is now deceased.
I
know that Yahweh is just and fair and will do right by us, but He is not beholden
to us for anything, except to keep His promises made to us (cf. Rom 8:32; 2 Cor 1:20; Php 4:19; 1 Thes 5:24; Heb 13:5; 2 Pet 3:9, 13, et al). All our concerns
will diminish once we are there; I am sure of it. We really will not have need
of any pets; God Himself is sufficient for all things in our life. We will not
lack anything in glory forever!
Allow me quickly tell you about some pets I do not want to see up there in glory, and
I know they will not be there, but I wanted to take a different spin with you
on this pet project. Spiritually speaking, I can say with great rejoicing that
once our bodies are transformed into a glorified state, all of our pet sins
involving evil thoughts, evil words, and evil behavior will be gone forever;
our sin nature will be eradicated from our bodies in the process of
glorification along with our pet sins and any propensities to sin. Thank, God,
for this! Alleluia! Heaven is going to be way beyond just cool! It comes with
knowing Jesus.
As far as animal pets go, I can remember in my life having two canaries, one hamster, a couple of turtles, two Chihuahuas (Sassy and Pedro), a green anole, two iguanas, several aquariums of different kinds of fishes, and last but not least, cats. My first exposure to death was when one of my canaries died. Then a week later the other one passed away. At eight years of age, I was charged with the task of exhuming the buried canary and placing its mate alongside it in the shoebox. My birds, my burial, I guess.
I am a cat lover probably because felines suit my personality and are less maintenance. This doesn’t mean that I do not like canines; I have always been impressed with a dog’s trait of unconditional love for its owner. I think that my brother’s mutt, Sadie, is one of the coolest dogs ever. I liked his dog the moment I laid eyes on her.
Currently,
we have a gold tip Bengal cat that Beverly and I named, Lexus. I can holler
out, “Kitty, Kitty,” or call out her name, and it goes in one ear and out the
other. Seriously, our Bengal does not know she is supposed to come running when
we cry out, “Kitty, Kitty!” I would tell Lexus,
“You do know that you are considered one of the most intelligent breeds of cats
around; so, what gives?” She jacks her spine up and pleads the fifth. When she meows,
she has trained us to go and do whatever she wants if she meows, and my, can
she meow! Naturally, Beverly blames that on me, “You’ve spoiled her rotten!”
I have to say, if Lexus has a negative trait, it would be in the sound of her meows. There is no doubt that she has the loudest, most irritating meow of any cat that Beverly or I have ever “owned!” I have had people say to me while on the cellphone, I hear your cat! Normally my response is apologizing for the interruption, “Sorry, my cat always makes it about her!”
With a higher decibel level than usual and a higher degree of repetition, it can really grate on the nerves! She wants to be heard. My response when she releases her reverberating roar at the top of the stairs of our two-story great room, “Lexus! Stop it!” There’s a pause, then, a roar, and then, more roaring. We should have named her, Rory. What is coming out of her larynx or voice box does not match her 8 lb. body; I can assure you of that!
Sometimes,
Lexus will softly let out these little pants that are barely audible. And she starts
that paw-patting as if she had already hooked into that mammary outlet. It
quickly catches our attention because that is not Lexus most of the time! They
are precious sounds, nonetheless, and refreshing to the ear-piercing meows!
On May 11, 2021, Lexus will turn 76 in cat years or 15 in human years; she looks good for her age, yes? The lifespan of a Bengal cat that is relatively healthy averages around 17 human years; I am told. We all know that animals mature at a faster rate than humans. I know of people who refuse to have any more pets because of the pain of losing one given their short lifespan. With Lexus drawing nearer to the average lifespan (the thought of it pains me dearly) and being an “inside cat,” for she was spayed and declawed of all four, I am hoping she will knock the average lifespan out of the park, if Yahweh wills it to be so.
She
has seen me through several medical recoveries and seems to know when I am
hurting; Lexus is a source of great comfort. Beverly complains that whenever I am around, Lexus doesn’t seem to
know that she exists! Then she sarcastically remarks, “That little ‘traitor’ is
all over me when you’re gone!” I try to console my big baby that Lexus knows
that I am her primary caregiver and not to take it personally! She loves Lexus
as much as I do.
Beverly
will make the accusation in jest, “You love that old cat more than me!” I don’t know
about that, because we should never love our pets more than people, but Lexus
has stolen my heart to be sure, but my marriage remains healthy and intact! I
know we treat our pets like “children,” and at times we fail to understand why
they do this or that as if they know better!
We
may inject human traits into our pets, and refer to them as “our babies” or
“our children,” and even cry when they are hurt or die, but animals do not know
what that means. Planet of the Apes makes for good Sci-Fi, but man and
apes are completely different species. Any similarities between man and
animals do not serve as any proof of transitioning or evolving into another
species or illustrating a glimpse of evolution at work! Evolution is so lame a
theory on origins!
Whenever
we read about creation week (Gen 1:1-31), nine times the phrase is used according to its kind (Gen 1:11, 12, 21, 24,
25); each species was unique, but all came forth from the same Creator. On the sixth day, only Adam of all of God’s creation was fashioned (Gen
2:7) according to the image of God (Gen 1:26-27) which contradicts evolutionary theory.
So,
what makes us distinct from our pets and the rest of the animal kingdom on
earth? I will give you nine things shared with me on what it is like to be made
in the image of God. This took place during a Wednesday night study group in the book of Genesis from my good
friend, Dr. Michael Womack:
1. We have a personal conscious life.
2. We have a shared personness with God.
3. We are capable of self-awareness and self-determination
beyond
the instinct of animal survival.
4. We can communicate with God.
5. We are capable of responsible conduct.
6. We represent God on earth, “like unto God.”
7. We are a reflection in miniature of the personal character of God –
moral attributes.
8. In the image of God means goodness, holiness, wisdom,
graciousness,
et cetera.
9. We possess a unique dignity and worth.
Why
do we forget that our pets lack self-awareness and understanding; they are
nothing close to humankind as seen above in those 9 points, for they were not
created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27)? Perhaps a better question would be
why are we not more cognizant of our self-awareness and understanding? If my
definition of a redneck holds true, one who lacks self-awareness, then that would
make him/her who lacks self-awareness and understanding an animal? Devolution,
yes? LOL
When you consider that all the animals, trees, and plants are part of the eco-system of our planet to sustain life, once there is a new heaven and a new earth, there will be no need for the old eco-system. For example, since there will be no more sea (Rev 21:1), what need is there for marine life? Just because there is water in heaven doesn’t mean that there is any marine life contained therein. There will be no need for scavengers of any kind. There is no death, decay, or destruction in glory!
There will be no need for birds to spread seed or bees to pollinate, no cats to catch
rats or dogs to bark at the neighbors! In a celestial atmosphere, there is no need for photosynthesis to take place. We could go on and on. There is nothing in the former creation (including pets) that will be
necessary unless the Creator God deems it so on the new earth (cf. 2 Pet 3:10, 13); I am simply opining. Yahweh will make that determination on what is unnecessary or necessary.
Realistically, being in a
glorified state and our eternal home being so radically different than what we were
accustomed to in the temporal realm (cf. 2 Pet 3:9-13; Rev 21:1-7), the pet issue might not only be a moot point but is actually being employed in the here and now by our adversary as a diversionary tactic to provoke
the sons and daughters of Adam to question the goodness and kindness of God – “If
my pets aren’t going to be in heaven; I don’t want to go” mentality, for instance! And I am not trying to be humorous, Satan will use anything available to discredit Yahweh! Romans 8:28 is still in the
Book of books.
Nobody can categorically say that heaven will be animal-free,
because folks, we have spirited horses coming out of heaven! Whether those are real steeds or not is up for debate. I like Dr. David Jeremiah’s
answer to the question of whether or not our pets will be in heaven. It went
something like this, paraphrasing, “I don’t know if our pets will be in heaven
or not, but what I do know is that Jesus is coming back to earth riding on a
white horse (cf. Rev 19:11)!” By that interpretation, Yahweh has horses up there and lots of them.
Jesus will be riding on a horse of war, and I might add, so will we (Rev 19:14), but Jesus is going to do all the fighting before the millennium (1,000 years, Rev 19:15, 21) and after the millennium (Rev 20:7-9)! Now, whether the Apostle John is using figurative or literal language in conveying this literal truth and riding on a white horse, you be the judge. What I know is that I got a white warhorse up in glory and so do you if you are a genuine believer. Whether those horses are needed after there are a new heaven and a new earth, only Yahweh knows.
Horse or no horse, literal or symbolic, it is in our best interest to saddle up to the truth that there is literally an ultimate victory on the horizon and the cessation of spiritual warfare forever! Pets or no pets in heaven, choose you this day whom you will serve, yes (Josh 24:15)?
(Rom 8:19) For the earnest expectation of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
(Rom 8:20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
(Rom 8:21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(Rom 8:22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. <><
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