Will animals...specifically, our pets...be in Heaven. That causes concern among many people, because pets can be very loyal, and can become as close as human family members to many people.

I've often said that Heaven will be what you want it to be; if you appreciate the beauties of nature...love to camp out...God will see that you're satisfied with what He has created in Heaven for you. That's why I didn't feel that I was adding to scriptural meaning when I once wrote a poem I call "Dog Heaven." It was after some close friends lost a dog they loved very much. Let me recite it to you:

Will your dog be part of Heaven? There are arguments on this...Many feel, if Heaven's perfect, Dogs will help provide that bliss.In the Bible there's a verse that says LOVE won't demand its way;Is not mean, or unforgiving, and when trouble looms, will stay.

Is there one you know who's like that? Sticking closer than a brother? one who'll lick the hand that beats him? Truer, even than your Mother?Loves his master, sick or healthy? Loves one who forgets to feed him? Follows, whether poor or wealthy? Faithful when his master needs him?

Yes, the love and the devotion, taught in every Bible story,Found in pedigree or mongrel...SHOULD be part of Heaven's Glory!

And although the Bible doesn't say it in so many words, let me offer these: In Isaiah 65:25, Isaiah is prophesying the birth and life of Christ, then it seems that he begins talking about Heaven...our afterlife...when he tells of a time when the wolf will dwell with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the lion and the calf will be together and a little child shall lead them. He goes on to say the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and the lion, which is of the cat family, will eat straw, and this tells me they'll be in a place without deaths being necessary as food for each other.

These thoughts continue in Isaiah 16:15. Notice too that in the New Testament, Mark (16:15) says to preach the gospel to every creature, and why should creatures need to hear the Gospel. And so God may not mean “animals” in this verse.

And in closing, I offer this...that the love we're told we should have for others, is found in dogs, to a much greater degree than in us humans.

If humans had that type of love and devotion, there would be no divorces...no abused, neglected or abandoned children...no elderly people who wonder why their loved ones forget to visit...no thefts, no locks and no jails.

And so if God decides to allow pets in Heaven, it's alright with me.