(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
I know there is a lot of sadness and sorrow in the world right now, and it can seem overwhelming at times. I try to follow the news (from reliable sources, carefully considered and tested), and sometimes I just have to stop and take a break from it. I know many of you are in the same situation.
That said, I thought we would canoe in a little bit different place in this article. I use a canoe as an analogy sometimes, as, to me, a canoe offers an opportunity for peace and quiet like nothing else can in this world. Short of quiet time with the Lord, that is.
Maybe we just need to paddle in a Godly mist on a sunny, calm pond for a bit. I’ll let you decide if it’s worth a read.
Most of us have had, or still have, a much-beloved pet. Dogs especially capture my heart, and I become very attached to them. Their antics are a constant source of joy (except for getting into the trash and spreading it over vast areas of the house), and their amazing love and loyalty are a wonder.
And then comes that awful day when we must confront the reality that we knew was coming inexorably along with all the joy. We ignored it successfully for a long time. As they show signs of aging, it becomes harder to ignore. You all know what I am referring to. Finally, we must fulfill our responsibilities and pay the price. It hurts so bad, and we feel like traitors. Never mind that our old friend and companion can’t know our sorrow. And the void lasts such a long time.
For others, it’s a cat or a horse or some other critter that we adore and enjoy. The same law of entropy applies regardless, and we must deal with it. It is the way our beloved God designed His creation for reasons He will make clear to us when we get Home.
Now I am going to share some thoughts with you, my brothers and sisters. I can only present my ruminations to you as “hypothetical,” but I think there are strong reasons for hope and confidence.
All throughout the creation narrative, there is a recurring theme. God created, and when completed, He “saw that it was good.”
On the sixth day, the Bible records this: “And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.’ And it was so. God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good“ (Genesis 1;24-25). Emphasis added by me.
I believe it is safe to say that our “favorites” are included in the sixth-day record.
Genesis is God’s record of the beginning of His plan, and Revelation is the conclusion.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’
“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’ Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end'” (Revelation 21:1-6). Emphasis added by me.
He said ALL things. Yes, He did. Here is where I am going to step out a bit.
In no way am I adding to the Word of God, and I want to make it clear that I am positing possibilities only. They are, however, posited on what I believe is consistent with the nature of God, His love of His creation, and His clear love of us, His people.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
In this dark time in human history, we sometimes need to take a little moment to speculate on the things that might await us in Heaven — the Glorious things that may be prepared by a Glorious God.
Heaven, I think it is safe to say, is anywhere our Blessed Savior will be. And that, according to God’s own Word, will, at its appointed time, be a “new heaven and a new earth.”
We know that, in addition to our Glorious Savior, we will see all our saved loved ones there and the billions of brothers and sisters in our forever family.
I also believe this: every aborted child and every little one that had not yet attained the ability to choose right from wrong will be there as well. Some verses that I believe support this understanding:
- “Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it” (Deuteronomy 1:39).
- “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).
I believe they have been snatched up, and they are even now dwelling safely with the Lord.
What might be some other possibilities? Remember, God said everything was “good.” Why would our Lord abandon all the other wonders of His amazing creation? I don’t believe He will. Perhaps some might think I am being a little over-the-top? That’s OK; I don’t mind. Perhaps I’m not.
Let’s speculate a little, shall we? What if:
- All our favorite pets are present in eternity (well-behaved, of course) or could be if we ask Him for them.
- We know there will be horses (at least white ones) as we will be riding on them with our Lord when He returns with us at the Second Coming (Rev 19:14); so you horse lovers can rejoice!
- Songbirds! Loons! Ducks! Moose! Deer! Otters! Think about it! All “GOOD,” God said when He created them!
I believe the new earth will be filled with the Glory of God and well represented by His incomparable creation.
And here is something that I find very interesting: 9 “On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat!’ 14 But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.’ 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy‘” (Acts 10:9-15).
I have emphasized the above in order to call attention to the idea that these verses indicate that these creatures are coming down out of Heaven AND being returned to Heaven.
This is later confirmed in Acts 11: 9-10. While there is a reference to eating, the real emphasis seems to be twofold:
1) V9- That God has now made these formerly unclean creatures clean.
2) V10 -That they were drawn back into Heaven.
What does this tell us? Could it mean that the Lord had already cleansed His previously unclean creatures in preparation for them to be present in the eternal Kingdom?
- Are they now “good” again? Remember, before the Fall, God said everything was “good.”
As we already know, God does not do anything without a purpose. I think this possibility is worth careful consideration.
And now for the crux of this rumination.
As the Lord said in (1 Corinthians 2:9), “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Let’s just live by Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Instead, we can lean on His Wisdom, Sovereignty, and Trustworthiness! In this very dark time in human history, I believe we should just trust in our Incomparable God! Rejoice!
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. It requires that you come before God on His terms. And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
John 5:24: “Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life.”
There are no answers, and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics, or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God. The Bible. If you ask God with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com
