When my youngest son was about three, his pet hamster died as our friends drove onto our campus for a meeting. It did not respond to revival efforts and so we grabbed a spoon, buried it by the banana tree, said a prayer and greeted guests. I knew I would hear about this later. Sure enough two weeks later we drove to the beach for vacation. My daughter who carried her little brother in her lap reported their conversation. “Did Jesus die for the hamster’s sins?” Asked the little guy. His big sister who was only about fourteen, answered that Jesus died for peoples’ sins. The little guy thought and finally answered, “I know! Jesus’ hamster died for the hamster’s sins.” For sure heaven could not be heaven without our beloved pets. Most of us have faced that mystery in some form or another. The Bible is just not that clear.
The Teacher at the end of Ecclesiastes 3 ponders the similarity of life found in humans and life found in animals. We recognize that the life found in humanity and the life found in animals is different than the life found in vegetation. Animals seem to communicate within their species, show emotions and attachments, and devotedly love us. Facebook often has entries showing the attachments between people and many different types of animals and their gratitude for being helped when in trouble and remembering people over decades. The Teacher with all his wisdom, speaks into this observation centuries ago.
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? Ecclesiastes 3:18-4:1
Animals were in the Garden of Eden and were created life forms. We believe they too are part of the cycles of life, birth and death. Romans 8:20-21 shares, “ For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay—the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command—will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy.” It gives me hope that there will be “talking beasts” ala Narnia in heaven. I am also thankful for the gift of prayer and the ability to communicate my concerns for his creation and those I care for.
In any case, let us pray for God’s creation today. We can pray for the environment and the people who care for it. We can pray against pollution that destroys the innocent. And we can thank God for the devoted love, beauty and toil our animals give to us. Seeing all of life restored will be wonderful!!!!
On the Way to Wonder 