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Verse:For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —1 Peter 2:25, NIV
In my seventy-eight years of life, I’ve lived with eight dogs, five cats, four parakeets, two gerbils, one mouse, and schools of fish.
Most of us who have pets love them “in sickness and in health until death do us part.” Despite their problems, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
As animal lovers, we also enjoy wild animals in the zoo and watching YouTube videos of their antics. Many are warm and cuddly.
Others are beautiful or smart. Many have desirable traits. Others don’t. We all have our favorites. (My Maltipoo dog is a mix of very good and very bad.) What is it that makes us love our pets and other animals? I believe the answer goes back to Creation. If God had not loved animals, He wouldn’t have made the wide variety that exists. His imagination, sense of humor, and love of beauty are displayed in the giraffe, kangaroo, and multicolored birds. Originally, the whole animal kingdom was friendly to human beings. When God finished creating man and animals, He said all were very good (Genesis 1:31). It sounds to me like God intended all along for people and animals to love each other. It will be that way again in the earth made new (Isaiah 11:6–9).
Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd.
He loves His sheep. In the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3–7), we can picture Jesus leaving the fold and going after the one that’s lost.
Have you wandered from His fold? We serve a forgiving God of love. The proof ? God gave Jesus to die for our sins so we don’t have to die.
By accepting His gift, we will live with Him forever. “In the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7, NIV).
The bonus? We can live and play with every animal, without fear of harm, to our heart’s content. Loving animals is God’s desire for us now and throughout eternity.
Donna J. Voth