Thank you for once again reading the message for the week. I hope you all are doing great. I am doing fairly well. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post this message.
Last week, we finished up our series on the book of Philippians. I hope that everyone learned at least a little something from that series. This week and next week, I am going to post messages on topics. After that, we are going to start a new series of messages that I hope will be of benefit to you.
October 4, which is right around the corner, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. On that day, many churches have a blessing of the animals service. I find these to be very meaningful and important to those whose pets are of great importance to them.
Those who have had special animal friends in their lives like I had my friend Toby, want to know if they will be reunited with their pets some day in Heaven. I have been concerned about this for many years, and I've researched a lot about it. In my research and study of the Scripture, I have come to the conclusion that we who are in Christ will definitely see our animal friends when we die.
First of all, let us look at Romans 8:21-22. Here, Paul makes it clear that all of creation will be set free from the bondage and decay that beset it through the fall of Adam. All creation includes all of the animals that were created by God. All of them suffered as a result of sin. In order for them to benefit from the redemption of the created order through Jesus Christ, they would have to be able to enjoy the fruits of that redemption which can only occur if they are brought back to life.
John Wesley, whom I admire greatly, wrote about this in a sermon called "The General Deliverance." He believed that in the world to come, the Lord would restore all things. Everything would be restored to the way that it existed in the Garden of Eden. Those animals who suffered as a result of the first Adam's sin would benefit in the restoration of all things under the Last or Second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is called the Last Adam by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15. He talks about how Adam became a living being, but Christ is a life-giving spirit. In Romans 5, Paul talks about how sin and death came as a result of the first Adam, but the work of the Second Adam, Jesus, will ultimately undo all of what the first Adam's sin did in the world. The first Adam failed, the Second Adam redeems all.
What does this mean about animals and pets in the afterlife? The Bible says in Acts 3:21 that Jesus will remain in Heaven until the time comes for the restoration of all things. This means that one day, Jesus will come and make all right again. The creation will be delivered from all its trouble. Everything will be restored to its Edenic state. As the Bible says, the lion will lie down by the lamb.
What I have just laid out for you is one of the main Scriptural reasons that I believe that we will see our pets again when we die. Jesus' through His death, resurrection and return sets everything back right. And all creatures that suffered as a result of sin will benefit from the restoration of all things. That from what I can determine, includes our pets.
Now, there is another reason that I believe we will see our pets again in the world to come. Jesus Himself is the reason. Jesus when He lived on earth was kind, loving and compassionate. Jesus knows what our pets have meant to us. I believe He was the one who brought Toby and me together. Knowing Jesus, I believe that He will want His followers to experience the maximum level of joy. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He knows what we need, and He will make it so.
I firmly and unequivocally believe that I will see my friend Toby again in Heaven. No one will ever convince me otherwise. I know this too. Jesus will come again and make everything right just as it was when it was first created. If we put our faith and trust in Him, we can be part of all that He is making new. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray in regard to my health. Unfortunately, I have had a small relapse of arthritis. Please keep praying, I appreciate it.
Pray for peace in the world. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Yemen and Sudan.
Please pray for an end to the ebola virus in Africa and pray that the measles outbreak still in some states in the US will end.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Tunisia and Azerbaijan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday and the next chapter of the book on Wednesday. I will post a topical message on Friday. May God bless you all.
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