The manta ray is the largest member of the ray family and lives throughout the tropical seas of the world. It measures up to twenty-two feet across its “wings,” ten feet long from head to tail, and weighs up to three thousand pounds. Its mouth can be three feet wide! Surprisingly, it has very small teeth and is actually one of the harmless creatures of the sea, unless harassed.
This gentle giant can be found close to the shore, as well as out in the open sea where it swims almost continuously as it searches out the best feeding areas. It feeds mostly on plankton (tiny plant and animal life) and schools of small fishes. This majestic fish will sometimes “breach” like a whale.
A diver who saw one tells that at first he was afraid of it, but then he was surprised to find it quite friendly. After looking the diver over, the manta ray dropped down below him, barely moving. In a bold moment’s decision, the diver also dropped down and gently landed on the manta ray’s back with his legs spread out and his hands on its shoulders. Soon its wings began to slowly beat, and the diver realized he was off on a trip with no idea how it would end. But he was pleased to find he wasn’t thrown off and that the manta ray seemed to like his company. The ride didn’t last long but was quite a thrill.
Some others have had similar experiences such as this diver had. We hope each one was impressed with a real awareness of the wonders of God’s creation, for all the creatures of the oceans are included in the Bible verse that says, “By Him were all things created . . . and He is before all things, and by Him all things [continue to exist]” (Colossians 1:16-1716For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16‑17)).
The Bible also tells all boys and girls to “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)) and to know Him not only as the One who created and watches over them, but as the God who loves each and every one. He invites you to know His Son, the Lord Jesus, as your Saviour. He died on the cross to put away the sins of all who trust Him to forgive them. He will then accept you as one of His own children, with the promise of a heavenly home when life on earth is ended.
ML-07/18/2004