Are There Donkeys in Heaven?

As we were driving to church, I listened to our little boys having a conversation. Our 6 year old said that Jesus knew about donkeys because He rode on one. I reminded him that Jesus knew about donkeys because He created them. John 1:3 tells us, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Once I mentioned about Jesus making everything, our little boy replied, “I knew that dad.”
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Actually what had led to this conversation was our boys discussing whether or not there were donkeys in heaven. Soon our 5 year old said, “Yes, there are! I know it.” When his answer did not seem to satisfy everyone he then said, “I know it because the Bible says so.” I raised my eyebrows because he had just turned 5 a few months ago and cannot even read yet.
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I was tempted to chuckle; however, I realized that this was a serious matter that needed to be addressed. I told him that there was actually not a specific statement in the Bible about donkeys in heaven and that we should not say something is in the Bible if it is not there.
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Sadly both Christians and non-Christians alike end up believing that the Bible teaches things that it does not teach simply because they have heard wrong information. That is why it is so important to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV)
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It is understandable that a 5 year old might make a mistake about what is actually in the Bible, but sadly some adult religious leaders make mistakes or intentionally deceive others about what is in the Bible. Sometimes they even say something is not in the Bible when it is actually there.
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The average Christian sometimes struggles to know what the Bible really teaches. For example some may wonder if the phrase, “a penny saved is a penny earned” is in the Bible. Help for such answers can be found by looking up words in Strong’s Concordance, which is a large book that lists all the words in the Bible and where they are found. A simpler option would be to do a computer search by visiting a site like Blueletterbible.org.
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Though such tools are helpful they do have their limits. Consider the golden rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Though that exact phrase is not in the Bible, the idea is. Matthew 7:12 says, "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (NASB)
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Such examples remind us why it is so important to read and study the Bible. They also show why it is important to find a church where the Bible is read and studied. Though our 5 year old cannot read yet, we do read the Bible to him. His confusion should remind all of us to pay attention when the Bible is read or preached so that we not get confused. It is also a good idea to take your Bible along with you to church so you can read along as it is being taught.
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I do not know if there will be donkeys in heaven. I tend to think they will be there, but I want to make sure that I not claim that something is in the Bible when it is not.