Whilst on the “garden route” yesterday at our house, we noticed two or three bats hanging from the rafters where the lounge wall meets the chimney. The natural response is to get rid of the bats … so I googled to learn what to do.
The common bat may eat up to 600 mosquitoes or more per hour – or nearly half its body weight in bugs during a single night. The reason bats are living around your property is because you live close to the food source. It is said that they don’t just eat insects such as mosquitoes and moths, they also consume several kinds of plants and fruits. They chose a place to roost that is darkened and well-shaded giving them a place to roost (hang upside-down) during daytime. Indoor roosting sites could include attic space, a barn, roof voids, porch eaves, and even storm drains. Outdoor settings mean caves, hollowed spaces in trees, mine tunnels, and under bridges. Any opening of half an inch or greater is all a bat needs for entry. They also like areas that are warm and humid. There are many myths associated with bats such as vampire bats sucking human blood. The truth is that vampire bats do suck blood from deer and cattle and not humans. Another is bats are blind, hence the expression “blind as a bat.” The fact is that bats have normal eyesight but do use the echoes from their shrieks to guide their nighttime flights. Another is that bats are filthy, disease-carrying animals. The fact is that only in rare cases can bats transmit rabies to humans. Another thing about bats is that no bat can burrow its way into your home. They simply don’t have the strength to create an opening or tear apart any materials inside. Instead, bats enter through existing holes or crevices in a variety of places. The greatest concern to homeowners should be bat guano (droppings). Their waste can grow mold, which – if not removed – could become a health problem for your family. Should a bat get trapped inside the walls or spaces of your home and die there, the body could decompose and produce a strong odor. Attracting bats to your property may sound like the last thing you would want to do, but giving them a viable option outside of your home is actually a much better solution than dealing with attic bats or any type of removal process. You can purchase a bat house from a hardware store, or easily create one on your own with simple, cheap materials. These are usually made of wood and provide enough space for several bats to roost while keeping out light and allowing for drainage of their urine and guano. You can hang the bat house high up on a tree where the bats are most likely to fly inside of it.
(Although edited, this information was found at www.pests.org/get-rid-of-bats/).
For me the bottom line is that bats are not dangerous and could be a huge help, especially where there are lots of insects, like mosquitoes. My first impression was, “how do I get rid of the bats?” Now I’m considering making a bat house and hanging it in one of the trees.
It is so easy to look at a situation and see the worst, yet after a little thinking and investigation, that which you think is a terrible or even dangerous situation might turn out to be a blessing. Just think … “the common bat may eat up to 600 mosquitoes or more per hour – or nearly half its body weight in bugs during a single night.” The same article above adds, “This can help farmers save money on pesticides.” If that be true. how much more of a help to us bats could be living in our gardens! I almost made the wrong decision. Thankfully I checked “bats” out on Google. How often do we tend to make wrong spiritual decisions and wrong moral decisions? The Bible says to us:
Pr 16:2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
You don’t have to be a church leader or a pastor to be told, “Who, me? I’m fine. I’m a good person. I don’t do anyone any wrong.” That is how this Proverb starts … “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him”. When I judge myself. I’m fine morally, ethically and in every other way.
Take the man Pilate as an example. Jesus was brought before him for trial and he could find nothing wrong with Jesus, His person, His teaching or His conduct.
Mt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
He judged himself innocent, yet he knew the mob wanted Jesus dead:
Mt 27:22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
And Church History reminds us, as well as every time we confess our faith in the Apostles Creed … “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried”.
As soon as you feel your ways are innocent, remember how this Proverb continues … “but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Charles Bridges says on this Proverb, “Our real worth is what we are in the sight of God”. God does not weigh the “ways” or “actions” of man. God weighs the heart!
You see, the real motivation of man is found in the heart … not in his deeds. This is why man’s judgment of himself is so different from God’s judgment! Man wants people to see his deeds but never exposes his motivation or purpose for doing what he is doing.
Here is a call for sober judgment of self … but this judgment needs to be in the light of Scripture. because He who knows the heart (and motives and intentions) provides help on the pages of the Holy Bible. Just as I needed to reference bats with a Google search, so we need to find help searching the Bible.
I thought I should include Bible aides (pastor, elder, etc.) to assist one where to find help … but then realized that the best help we can get is to read the Bible cover to cover as many times as we are able for the rest of our earthly lives. In doing this, we will pick up all the help, guidance and instruction required. Does not Paul tell Timothy:
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Did you see that? The Bible “is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” … and see the purpose … to be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Father, help me to study Your Word daily to equip me for making godly decisions that glorify Your name, to prevent me from judging myself perfect. Lord, grant me wisdom; prevent me from making sinful choices. Amen.