We don’t like to talk about death, do we? Yet, the “shadow of death” that David talked about in Psalm
23, has certainly fallen around me and people I love these past few days. From the actual death to the
immediacy of death, death is consuming my thoughts. It is emotionally and physically draining. But, as
Christians, we have a different outlook and promise that brings about a peace that lost people cannot
know; a peace that makes death, itself, acceptable and more bearable. We know…without an iota of
doubt…that we will be reunited with loved ones in Heaven: We will see them again. So this “shadow” of
death will pass and the sun will shine on our lives once again.
This column is about death but with a twist. You see, one of the deaths that is impacting me at this
moment is not human. Yes, my heart is heavy because of the death of a beloved church member, Lois,
and one of my best friends ever, Jim. But my heart is also breaking because of my daughter’s heart is
breaking due to the impending death of her dog, Oreo. If you ever met Oreo you would understand why
she is named after a cookie (I’ve always kidded with Oreo that her last name was Speedwagon and those
in my age range understand that.) Oreo has been in our family for 13 years. She is part of our family. So
the question arises: “Will dogs go to heaven?” Can we find comfort in that?
While the Bible tells us that humans have a soul and are created in the very image of God, dogs are not.
But while dogs are not the image of God, I certainly believe they are agents of God; gifts to us. And the
Bible does speak of animals in heaven in Isaiah 11:6-9, Ecclesiastes 3:18-21, among others. Revelation
tells us that Jesus will be on a horse, for crying out loud! Romans 8:20-21 says that “creation itself will be
liberated from its bondage to decay”.
Heaven is truly beyond all that we can imagine but I believe it does include things we can imagine:
specifically ones, human and otherwise, that brought us immense joy and happiness on earth. So, yes, I
believe dogs go to heaven. Who knows? Perhaps they can even communicate with us and after the Lord
greets me and I greet my family members and Jim and Lois and others, Oreo will come up to me and say,
“Hey Paw Paw (that’s what she called me) thanks for the head scratches and belly rubs and treats. They
were awfully good”. And I’ll tell her that I enjoyed them about as much as she did and to go play with
her mamma.
As I told a little girl who asked me that deep theological question about dogs in heaven: “I can’t imagine
heaven without ‘em”.
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony
23, has certainly fallen around me and people I love these past few days. From the actual death to the
immediacy of death, death is consuming my thoughts. It is emotionally and physically draining. But, as
Christians, we have a different outlook and promise that brings about a peace that lost people cannot
know; a peace that makes death, itself, acceptable and more bearable. We know…without an iota of
doubt…that we will be reunited with loved ones in Heaven: We will see them again. So this “shadow” of
death will pass and the sun will shine on our lives once again.
This column is about death but with a twist. You see, one of the deaths that is impacting me at this
moment is not human. Yes, my heart is heavy because of the death of a beloved church member, Lois,
and one of my best friends ever, Jim. But my heart is also breaking because of my daughter’s heart is
breaking due to the impending death of her dog, Oreo. If you ever met Oreo you would understand why
she is named after a cookie (I’ve always kidded with Oreo that her last name was Speedwagon and those
in my age range understand that.) Oreo has been in our family for 13 years. She is part of our family. So
the question arises: “Will dogs go to heaven?” Can we find comfort in that?
While the Bible tells us that humans have a soul and are created in the very image of God, dogs are not.
But while dogs are not the image of God, I certainly believe they are agents of God; gifts to us. And the
Bible does speak of animals in heaven in Isaiah 11:6-9, Ecclesiastes 3:18-21, among others. Revelation
tells us that Jesus will be on a horse, for crying out loud! Romans 8:20-21 says that “creation itself will be
liberated from its bondage to decay”.
Heaven is truly beyond all that we can imagine but I believe it does include things we can imagine:
specifically ones, human and otherwise, that brought us immense joy and happiness on earth. So, yes, I
believe dogs go to heaven. Who knows? Perhaps they can even communicate with us and after the Lord
greets me and I greet my family members and Jim and Lois and others, Oreo will come up to me and say,
“Hey Paw Paw (that’s what she called me) thanks for the head scratches and belly rubs and treats. They
were awfully good”. And I’ll tell her that I enjoyed them about as much as she did and to go play with
her mamma.
As I told a little girl who asked me that deep theological question about dogs in heaven: “I can’t imagine
heaven without ‘em”.
Say good things about your Savior and about His church here on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony