People and Animals

https://odb.org/MY/2022/03/09/all-creatures-great-and-small

It is undeniable that the LORD loves and cares for both humanity and other living beings. Although animals do not have soul that live forever and thus there is no afterlife or heaven and hell for animals, they are nevertheless created to live alongside us. Animals live based on instinct and not conscience and although they can be trained to behave a certain way, they don’t really have a moral sense of right and wrong. For example, in the wild, any other animal that is smaller is a potential meal, whether between a leopard and a cheetah or between leopards. Just because you’re a predator or a carnivore doesn’t make it unlikely that you may be killed and eaten by another meat eating predator. The hunter can become the hunted in an instant!

Two points I just like to say this morning. The first is that as God loves both people and animals, we should likewise love people and animals. There is no way we can profess the faith and yet be cruel to or mistreat animals. They exist to complement us and some to provide us with food. Thus it is good for children to have pets, to teach them love and compassion, to give them a companion to love and cherish, to have a playmate to care and nurture while young.

Secondly, as much as God can and will take care of the animals in the forest, the birds in the sky and the creatures that live in the water and the sea – God can and will take care of us as humans. There are wars, famines, natural disasters, calamities and diseases (pandemics), and people and animals do perish in the process, but in general everything that wants to live is given every opportunity to continue living. We all have an in-built tenacity to live, to survive, to strive for our next meal, to catch our next breadth.

So, if God cares for people and animals, what more will He care for us as His children and chosen people? We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). We are God’s people, we belong to Him, redeemed by Christ with His blood for His purposes. Will He not preserve, protect and keep us safe that we may serve Him and fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives? For God will work all things together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Let’s worry less of the future but put more thought to the present. We have the inherent ability to move forward, to live on. Live our lives to the fullest in the present for the glory of God that we truly become the light and the salt of the world! Proclaim His goodness and His love and compassion for people and animals alike! He is great and His mercies endure forever. His steadfast love never ceases. He is indeed our God and our Father and we are His people! Amen, to God be the glory, forever and ever!