by Rev. Barbara Henderson
I was always an animal lover,
but I was about 45 years old when I bought my first rat. Truly, I had no idea what I had; I just
thought it would be “cool” to have one. Very soon I was head over tails in love
with her! But Terry died early—even
for her species—because I knew nothing about her proper health care. And there I was: a raw, grieving, open
wound of a human being, wondering with fear and trembling where she was. I knew where her body was, and I
couldn’t look at it. But I
was mourning for her soul, the thing that made her an individual capable of
such a sweet, meaningful relationship with me. She could not just not
exist! Sadly, I had been taught the
arrogant but common error that animals don’t have souls and certainly not
eternal life. But I couldn’t
accept the lie this time. Terry was
just too wonderful a creature, and God, whom I knew to be compassionate and
loving, would never simply dispose of her little “person”ality. So I hoped…but I wasn’t
sure.
I was in Bible college at the time, studying for my minister’s
license, and I had an Old Testament class that night. I was in no emotional condition to go,
but I couldn’t bear to be alone either. So, coming straight from having my loved
one euthanized, I arrived at school early.
My teacher (Dr. Judy Phillips, now my treasured friend for 17 years) is
a true biblical theologian and a woman of great wisdom and compassion, yet with
a “get to the point” kind of approach. As I sobbed and choked out my pain, she
spoke clearly to me, “What do you need to know to feel
better?” And I cried,
“Tell me where my rat is!”
She didn’t even blink.
“Well, she’s in Heaven of course!” Suddenly, my head came up off my
desk and I began to learn the REAL truth about animals, and especially rats! Let me summarize for you what Judy
taught me that night:
Many ill-educated theologians
deny the immortality of animals, claiming as proof a few isolated scriptures
that have been proven to be mistranslated in many English versions of the
Bible. But the Bible clearly states
that we and animals have the same fate.
Indeed, the same Hebrew word used of the souls of Adam and Eve, “nephesh”—the breath of life, was also
consistently used of the animals He created. They are repeatedly described by the
exact same word. They have the
breath of life and will indeed live forever, according to God Himself!
No living thing that God
created was intended by Him to die.
Nothing that breathes will ever be annihilated. God does not un-create. He loves what He has made, enough to die
for it, and He makes that clear in the Bible.
Ecclesiastes
Another indication that God
treats humans and animals equally is the covenant between God and Noah in
Genesis 9:8-10: “Then God said to Noah, and to his sons with him:
‘I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the
livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with
you—every living creature on earth.’”
Revelation tells us there
will be horses in heaven, and verse
We humans who believe in
Jesus and accept His death on the cross as payment for our sins are completely
cleansed and forgiven, and will join Him in Heaven for eternal life. And we will be restored to our perfected
eternal bodies...along with our animals!
I will see Terry—and all my other rats—again!
If you have questions about
this topic, or about Christianity, contact Debbie at ratlady@ratfanclub.org or (530) 899-0605.
For Debbie “The Rat Lady’s”
Testimony, click here.
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