The Marvelous Bat

Bats are among the most underappreciated creatures in the entire world. Yet, they are most worthy of our appreciation. Nearly all bats eat only insects or fruit. Only one tropical species feeds on blood – usually the blood of cattle.

There are thousands of bat species. Incredibly, bats make up one-fourth of all mammal species on Earth. One-half of all mammal species found in the tropics are bats.

The smallest bat in the world is the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat, which is no larger than a bumblebee and weighs less than a penny. The largest bats are fruit bats. These completely harmless bats may have a wingspan of several feet. Most bats live in colonies, and some colonies have up to 20 million members.

Bats are beneficial to both humans and nature. Many of the bats found in North America, as well as other parts of the world, are responsible for consuming thousands of tons of insects every night. Other bats pollinate flowers. Bats are also an essential link in the ecosystem that makes the rainforest possible.

The earliest bats found in the fossil record are like bats today. They are fully formed with fully developed wings for flight. This means that there is not one scrap of fossil evidence to support the claim that bats evolved from some other creature. We can conclude that the scientific evidence says that bats were created pretty much in their present form by God.

Romans 11:33
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Prayer: Father, Your wisdom is its own witness. Help me to appreciate Your wisdom more as I seek it in Your Word. When I cannot understand what You are doing in my life, strengthen my faith and assure me of Your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ref: “Silent screamers.” Science Digest, May 1984. p. 57. Photo: Big eared townsend bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) NPS (PD)