Each time I have watched a pet die, the experience has prompted me to ask questions about death, eternity, and God’s goodness. How can I love something so much and suddenly find that it no longer exists? My theological sophistication evaporates along with my detachment. I am shaken to the core. I ask the question that every child asks: Do dogs go to heaven? If not, why not? In this podcast, I reflect on grief, pets, and the nature of heaven.
Do Dogs go to Heaven?
Published by John Koessler
John Koessler is an award-winning author and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. He serves as contributing editor for Moody's devotional publication Today in the Word and writes the monthly Practical Theology column. John also writes the Praying the Word column for Mature Living Magazine. His podcast A Stranger in the House of God can be heard on Amazon Podcasts, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. View all posts by John Koessler
Thank you so much for this, Dr. Koessler. I appreciate that you pointed us not to a specific answer, but the Greater Answer and to a greater question, namely, “Does God see my pain?” Your podcast made me ponder about my view of Heaven. It made me wonder if my unanswered questions are a tool in God’s hand to make me long for my eternal home. I wonder if my uncertainties are a part of His grace and help me understand how much He longs to reveal it to me one day when I get there.
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
1 Corinthians 2:9
Heidi, I think you are right in this. God uses these uncertainties to help us “lean in” with God. I also think they help us to long for heaven. I hope to do a podcast on the subject in the future. Thanks for reading!