A friend of mine recently told me about the death of his dearly beloved little pet dog, who had been part of their family for 14 years. In human terms this little critter would have been 84 years old. Not bad for a dog. Regardless of that, the family was very sad to lose their little friend.
I also have lost two dogs. Both of whom were sick and we felt it necessary to relieve their suffering. Of course we cried. We missed them terribly and would retell stories of their cute habits and their devotion to our family. Each one had a distinct personality.
While raising my four children we had a variety of pets…rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, fish, lizards, birds, cats, dogs, horses……have I left any out?
Yet what was always amazing to me is that each of these creatures was endowed with an individual spark of the Divine. Each one had a little personality….if I might call it that. One lizard loved bananas while the other one wanted only meal worms. The fish always knew when it was feeding time by swimming up to the top of tank. The horses would whinny when they saw my daughter pull her truck up to their stall. Have you ever seen a rabbit chase a dog?
All of the animals are God’s special creation. And no, they didn’t enter the world through some evolutionary processes. They have distinct genetic characteristics within their own species. A horse is still a horse whether black, brown, white…small or large. A hamster was never a fish.
Genesis 1:24-25, tells us God created His creatures, each after their own kind ….he didn’t need millions of years to do His work. Man (Adam) was given dominion over the earth. He was to care for the earth and all of the creatures under his control.
That means that we too are responsible for our use of the earth, its resources, and its creatures. This is our world and we are to handle it wisely. We are to use the resources that the Lord has provided with care and concern. These resources are not to be wasted but used with discretion for man’s benefit.
We are also to care for all of God’s creatures which are under our control. God even gave special instructions for us. Notice these verses and how the Lord wanted man to care for His special creatures.
Deuteronomy 22:7”If a bird’s nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; 7 you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.” The rabbis’ said to take the young birds or eggs only when there was no other food available, but that one must have respect for mother bird and her young.
Deut 25:4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. In other words, the ox also deserves his share of the harvest when he is working. Paul mentions this well known principle to both Timothy and the Corinthians in regards to those who are doing the Lord’s work. (1Cor. 9; 9 and 1 Tim. 5:18)
Exodus 23:5 “If you see the donkey …of someone who hates you… fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.” In other words, we are not to leave the poor animal, which has fallen… even if it belongs to someone you dislike. We are to help an animal who is being unjustly treated. This demonstrates to that person that you have care and concern for both him and his animal. I am thinking about the poor thirsty and hungry horses that were recently found out in our desert.
Jesus said (Luke 12:6) “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.”
God loves his creation. You and I are at the top of His list.
But until He returns to establish His new heaven and new earth, you and I are responsible for its care.
AbideLines 