This may not be an article about a critical aspect of theology or pertinent to the great troubles of the world, but it is a deeply personal article about a type of loss that many of us have or will experience–euthanizing your pet.
Yesterday, we felt it was time to put down Ricky, our Havanese, who was 20 years, 1 month, and 19 days old. Almost a record as we understand. He was the sweetest little dog who was so dependably gentle. I only bit once, and that was a snowman. In the end Ricky was blind in one eye and couldn’t see with the other. He was nearly deaf. He seemed to have dementia and would just stop and stare at times. He had a bad heart. He probably had colon cancer. He was done with this world. We were blessed to have him for so long. That also makes his loss a big change.
People ask often about the eternal fate of their pets. The Bible doesn’t speak directly about this topic. Some people, including pastors, have said that animals don’t have a “soul”. Technically, when we speak of body, soul, and spirit, the soul is the interaction of spirit and body in a human. It is likely that residence of memory, consciousness and conscience, among other things. Dogs have a version of that. My dog still could remember some things. He was deeply ashamed when he would have an accident in the house, so he had a conscience. He was also self-aware, but probably thought he was human. That’s our fault. Do animals have an eternal spirit–maybe-maybe not.
It would not appear that anything but humans and the current inhabitants of Heaven are destined for Heaven. Take a look at my afterdeathsite.com for posts about Heaven, the New Earth, and other Biblically related themes. The Bible does speak of the rest of nature being including in the New Earth and also of Christ’s death as reconciling all creation to Himself
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV)
Why would animals need to be “reconciled”? It is because all nature, including our pets, are not as God created them. They are modified to kill and they prove their corruption by dying.
The New Earth speaks of better things:
The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.Isaiah 65:25 (ESV)
Does this mean that a specific animal, like Ricky, will be a part of the New Earth? I can’t say “yes”, but I can’t say “no” either. For now, it is “I hope so”.
Giving Christ 