Pet Loss and Grief
Will Fido Go To Heaven?
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A Biblical Perspective
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A. H. Olmsted
Available at: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and Barnes & Noble
But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10)
About This Book:
This simple, easy-to-read book offers a perspective on what the Bible says to Christians grieving the loss of a beloved pet. It was written to offer solid hope and comfort for a future with your animal friends, using real Scripture and stories.
In this book, the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible has been chosen for most verses, unless a verse is used more than once. If you are not familiar with this Bible version, I encourage you to compare the ESV with other standard translations, such as the KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, and others, for further confirmation.
This book seeks to go beyond the main Bible stories of God’s relationship with mankind and focus more closely on God’s relationship with the rest of His living creation. It is my hope that, from the beginning to the end of the Bible, you will see how its authors, prophets, and people of faith gave living creation full respect, while always being careful to put the Creator of all first in everything. By the end of this writing, the reader should see that everything God did, and still does, has purpose. It all blends beautifully. Even though we departed from His ways and sin and death are now present on this earth, He still has a future for all who place their hope in His Son, Jesus Christ.
This perspective also explores some of the outlying questions people may wish to ask but may feel hesitant to raise in a public setting, or with a teacher who may not receive those questions gently.
Questions in this book, such as the chapter on blood, are simply questions that have repeatedly arisen in certain areas of life. This does not mean that Christians who choose to remove most, or all, blood from meat fail to respect the most important sacrifice of Jesus at the cross and His blood shed for us. The practice mentioned is not based on the requirements of Acts 15:28–29 and should never be used as such. Christ’s sacrifice at the cross completely fulfilled the need for any further animal sacrifices. But for some, this practice is also a matter of personal conscience, meant to show their utmost respect for all life and for all living things given by God.
Questions about when and how your animals are restored after death, a rapture, or where they may be while waiting for restoration, are another matter. In Heaven and in the new earth, Scripture says there will be no more curse. Matthew 10:29 also says that not even one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father. So, no matter the timing, how, where, or when, please have faith and patience. We have the promise of the Father that He will care for all creatures. God says He will be with them and restore them - in His way and in His time.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, bet we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:18-25 ESV)
Lastly, this book has an even deeper purpose beyond pet grief and loss. My hope is that it will give the reader greater confidence and love for the Creator, and perhaps even a renewed purpose in life. May it inspire a desire to open and study the Bible for deeper revelation and meaning, to explore beyond the stories, promises, and topics covered in this book, and to discover the real care and love God has for everything He created. I also hope it encourages readers to ask their Bible-based teachers and pastors - those who teach from Genesis through Revelation - for their perspective and further understanding of the main stories portrayed.
In closing, artificial intelligence was not used to find any Scripture for this book, so I am sure there are more Bible verses that can bring comfort. Please continue to search on your own.
In the coming months, I will try to add your comforting Bible Scriptures, along with a place for you to leave a photograph and comments to honor your furry or scaly friends.
Hopefully, this will become an amazing journey we can begin together -always praying and seeking guidance when opening the Bible for deeper understanding. May we encourage one another and respectfully share our growing faith in our loving Father and His care, even in seasons of grief. Maranatha!
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. (Psalm 36:6 ESV)
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. (Psalm 84:3 ESV)
Author: Amy H. Olmsted
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