United Evangelical Covenant Church of Delta County
To Know Christ and Make Him Known in Delta County and Beyond
A Word from the Pastor
Recently Grandma’s little lap dog died. He had been
a friend for her for many years. At this time one of our
granddaughters asked the question that has been asked by many
children and adults alike…”Will animals be in heaven?” Hopefully
this is a question most of us have come to terms with, but what
about a child’s pet that just died or what about that pet that has
been with Grandma for so many years? "Will Buffy be in heaven?" That
is not just a passing question. It is one of serious and deep
sincerity. How should the response be worded? The solution is as
relevant to the adult as it is to the child.
There are some things that we will lack in heaven: Sorrow (Rev.
7:17), Pain (Rev. 21:4), and the Curse (Rev. 22:3). There are also
things that will not be missing in heaven, but rather abundantly
present: Joy (Luke 15:7, 10), Rest (Rev. 14:13), Peace (Luke 16:25),
Righteousness (2 Peter 3:13), Reward (Matt. 5:11, 12), Glory (Rom.
8:17, 18). In heaven, it seems, we will lack nothing that is good.
In fact, we are to earnestly desire heaven (2 Cor. 5:2, 8). We are
to think of heaven as a much better place (Phil.1:23). We are to
place our treasure in heaven (Luke 12:33).
Well let’s get back to our original question, “will animals be in
heaven?” I think we can say to a child, and to ourselves that heaven
will be a place of joy and wonder. Nothing in heaven will be missing
and God's house is full of every aspect of paradise. I would like to
think that there will be animals in heaven. But mostly I’m leaning
toward what John Bunyan said when he couldn’t fully answer a
question about heaven. He advised the inquirer to live a holy life
and go see for himself.
In
Christ – Pastor Nathan
