Are you a pet lover?

Are you a pet lover?

On the spectrum between farmer and buy-your-poodle-clothes, I am closer to a farmer. I grew up with a couple different dogs, Lady and Bumper. In adulthood I truly loved my bullmastiff, Goliath.

When time came to put them down, I was very comfortable with the fact that they are cuddly biological machines. * Instinct drives animals. They don’t live for a greater purpose and don’t have life beyond the grave. I hate to tell you this, but all dogs don’t go to heaven.

I know people are treating their pets as faux children at an alarming rate. I am not trying to start a war with pet lovers.

I want you to live a life greater than my bullmastiff.

Animals are in survival mode. They are focused on hunting or gathering what they need to make it. That’s the way the Bible describes a lost view of the world. Ephesians tells us the lost world has a darkened understanding that leads to indulgence and greed. “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” This is the cry of the age that makes sense when this world is all there is.

It's an animal instinct existence. The life of prayer keeps us from living a life of animal instinct. Prayer helps you grab on to that which is eternal and spiritual instead of instinctual. The way of life in Christ is one that clings to the imperishable inheritance coming through the help of the Spirit.

Our fallen instincts in this broken world are strong. That’s why we need a strong grip on prayer. Our hearts will naturally chase after, trust in, or cower before riches (or whatever else we think we need).

In prayer we broaden our horizon beyond the grave. We reject a biological machine existence.

The prayers of the Psalms remind us, “Mankind with his assets but without understanding is like the animals that perish” (Psalm 49:20). We can let go of the short-sighted instincts that grip us and take hold of the eternal hope that empowers us to live differently. “The upright will rule over [the wealthy wicked] in the morning” (Psalm 49:14).

Recalibrate your perspective in prayer. It’s natural to chase things or run from fears. You have the super-natural privilege of the Spirit’s help in prayer to live for the future Jesus is bringing.

*Credit to Brandon Michaud for teaching me that farmer phrase from his father-in-law.