THE RED-LIPPED BAT FISH!

‘The Red – Lipped Bat Fish photo by Rein Ketelaals CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Red – Lipped Bat Fish is one weird, amazing fish!  Look at those bright red lips!!  According to Ocean Conservancy, ‘scientists aren’t totally sure why they have their signature red mouth’!  They certainly got my attention and perhaps that is their purpose because within this fish lies another powerful metaphor from The Book of Nature!  The red-lipped batfish doesn’t have any predators of its own, and because it lives so far underwater, it’s mostly unaffected by environmental impact.  The Verge Review of Animals.                                                                     

It’s not that predators aren’t around; they just can’t reach these fish because they live so far under water.  The message to me is clear!  Dive deep and you will be protected.   Remember, a metaphor is ‘a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else.’  The fish has ‘no predators’ in the physical realm is symbolic of a means of protection for us in the realm of the Spirit! 

You want to be protected from your predator, the devil, the one who ‘comes to steal, kill, and destroy?  It is a matter of the prosperity of your soul!
‘Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.’  3 John 1:2. NKJV.  There is a relationship between your prosperity and health and the prosperity of your soul.  To ‘dive deep’ like the Red – Lipped Bat Fish is to immerse yourself in the word of God.  Your soul prospers as you learn the scriptures and by faith, apply them to your life.  Your soul prospers as you get closer to God by setting aside time for Him!  The deeper you dive into His word, the more protection you have!  Your predator, the devil is still around, but as you apply your faith against him, he is unable to steal your health and prosperity.

I remember a story which illustrates this clearly!  John G. Lake was a missionary in South Africa.  ‘Shortly after the Lake family and their team arrived in South Africa. A mighty plague was sweeping through the nation, the death count was climbing dramatically. So much so that there was a surplus of corpses who were victims of the plague and there was no one to bury the dead.  if someone was to come in contact with a dead body, they would most certainly become infected and their death sentence would immediately begin. John G. Lake astounded the medical officials because he, without any gloves or protective clothing began burying the dead. Physicians in a panic approached John and rebuked him for coming in contact with the dead, John boldly responded “when the disease comes in contact with my skin, you can watch it die”. The doctors thought he was insane, so he challenged them to put a drop of the plague on his skin and watch it under a microscope. When they did so, John was right! The plague cells literally burned up the second they came in contact with his skin!’
John G. Lake:  His Successes and His Failures.  Catalyst training school.

What a story!  If you want to know more about John G. Lake, click on the link below.

The scriptures are full of promises regarding the benefits of gaining wisdom and knowledge from God’s word.

‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her, long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.’
Proverbs 3:13-18.

‘Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.’  
Proverbs 4:5-6.

‘The advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.’  
Ecclesiastes 7:12.

‘With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.’  Psalm 91:16.

Read all of Psalm 91 and be at peace!  ‘Dwell in the shelter of the Most High and you will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Have faith and say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’

And like the Bat Fish, you will find your predator, the devil unable to reach you as your faith increases and you trust in God. 

I write this in part because after I became a Christian and studied God’s word, I noticed that I became less and less susceptible to sickness!  Do you find this true in your life?

It is a valuable benefit of ‘Diving deep’ in God and His word!!!

DIVE DEEP!

The Red Lipped Bat Fish – Natural Born Thrillers.

The Untold Story of John G. Lake.  The Healing Evangelist.