Potato and Spud

Preparation:

Fill one glass two thirds full with plain water. Make some salt solution by dissolving a heaped tablespoon of salt in 250 ml of water. Fill the other glass two thirds full of the salt solution.

Effect:

Two potatoes are shown and then placed in glasses of "water" to test for their goodness. The potato in the salt solution will float while that in the water will sink due to the lower specific gravity of water.

Age Group:

Grades 1 - 7 (7 to 14 years).

Theme:

Mr Spud became what he was created for, and did what God had planned for him. God wants us to do the same.

Lesson:

One fine day Mr Potato and Mr Spud were having an argument about who was going to Heaven. "I'm going to Heaven!" said Mr Potato, "After all I am a fine outstanding potato and you can make heavenly food from me!" "You look so good," replied Mr Spud, "But I don't look nice at all as I'm just an 'All Purpose' Potato." ( Display the two potatoes and show how good Mr Potato looks ).

Mr Potato looked down his long nose at the humble Mr Spud. "You're just a wimpy lump of starch!" rumbled Mr Potato, "You'll never get to Heaven! Look at you, you're full of lumps and bruises," he sniffed, "Absolutely third grade, fit only for pigs!"

"But, I am useful as I can be baked, fried or boiled to make many delicious potato dishes," cried Mr Spud wiping away a tear from his eye. He softly said, "I only obey my Maker and do what He made me for."

Who for Heaven?

"Huh!" exclaimed Mr Potato, "Now, look at ME, I'm such an outstanding citizen, that the Angels will bow down in amazement as I march down the road to Heaven! "But, children love me!" mumbled Mr Spud. Just then a quiet voice said, "It is not the rich and famous who will enter My Kingdom, but those who do the will of God."

Both were quiet for a few minutes as they thought about this. "I know," said Mr Potato, "We will have a contest. Only bad potatoes sink in water, and that way we will know who's going to Heaven. Of course that will be ME!"

Two glasses of water were brought in and both potatoes were placed in the water ( Place Mr Potato in the glass containing water and Mr Spud in the glass containing the salt solution ). "I'm floating!" shouted Mr Spud. But there was no reply from Mr Potato!

Delicious Chips:

Later that day Mr Spud was pealed and fried into delicious chips. "Oh, yummy!" shouted the children as Mom dished up the chips and they gobbled them up in a trice. A quiet voice said, "Well-done Mr Spud, you have obeyed me, and have become what I created you for!"

As for Mr Potato? What a pity, he sank to the bottom and found himself in the rubbish bin. "Oh, I was bad and all glassy inside," he said sadly, "And all the time I thought that I was better than old Spud." What a sad end for Mr Potato!

Seeing Jesus:

I don't know about you, but I want to keep on serving Jesus every day. And then one day I will be able to say like the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:7-8):

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness,
Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day
And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing."

I'm looking forward to seeing Jesus standing at the gates of Heaven with His arms wide open in welcome. I want to hear Him say, "Well done, you good and faithful servant - enter into your rest."

What about you? You can choose to be like Mr Spud or to be bad inside like Mr Potato. But if you choose God's way and ask Jesus to be your Saviour and to guide you in all you do, you will please God. For you will be doing what He has planned for your life. It's up to you. Which way are you going to choose?

God bless!