The Rock-Climbing Catfish
1 Peter 4:11
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
It’s not very pretty, nor is it graceful, but Colombia’s rock-climbing catfish has a unique ability among fish. Perhaps there are days when a salmon, trying to make it up a waterfall, wishes that it could simply climb the rocks.
The rock-climbing catfish’s climbing equipment begins with a powerful sucker mouth. Once it attaches itself to a rock, it can stay stuck despite any torrent. The rock-climbing catfish also has a bony plate on its belly that helps it hold its place while it repositions its sucker a little further up the rocks. The plate has fins with tiny, backward-pointing teeth. These teeth dig into the rock and prevent slipping. The catfish’s third special feature is a set of powerful muscles to control the plate.
Once the rock-climbing catfish has attached its sucker to the rock, it pulls up its stomach plate and anchors it. With its body anchored, it moves its sucker up the face of the rock and repeats the process. Following this method, the rock-climbing catfish can walk its way up a 20-foot rock wall against the torrent of a waterfall in about 30 minutes!
Who gave the rock-climbing catfish that powerful sucker mouth? Who gave it such a clever bony stomach plate and the powerful muscles to control it? And who taught it to climb rocks? There are two opinions today. One opinion says that no one did it. The other says that it was the work of the Creator of worlds and stars and you and me. The Bible’s claim of a Creator is the only one that makes sense!
Prayer: Dear Lord, it is from You as the creating Word that all ability comes. Help me to use the abilities You have given me to glorify You in word and deed so that others may know of the forgiveness of sins. Amen.
REF.: Hanson, Jeanne K., and Deane Morrison. 1990. The wonderful weird of flora and fauna. Star Tribune First Sunday, Dec. 2. p. 17.
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