Christmas and Easter. What are these holidays all about? The answer to that question slips out of our mouths with ease. "Jesus came to the earth to die for our sin." And, for those of us who know the story, a simple explanation follows culminating with the resurrection. Unfortunately, many folk don't realize just how serious a problem sin created, both for God and for mankind. Here is a story and a unique visual aid which has proven helpful in communicating the awfulness of sin.
I first heard the story from John Cross at a TERM* seminar. It was about a big rat that died under his house in Papua New Guinea. Having lived in the tropics, it wasn't difficult to imagine the scene, nor the smell. The rodent had expired in a crawl space underneath the bedroom floor of their stilt house. As the carcass decayed, a putrid odor began to dominate their bedroom. So nauseous was the smell, John and his wife were forced to retreat to another part of the house for the night.
Suffice to say, I found the illustration an excellent means of communicating how God feels about sin. Just like the dead rat is disgusting to us, so sin is detestable to a holy God.
I purchased a large rubber rat at a local, "Balloon's Plus", store. I began by removing the squeaker—dead rats don't talk! Then, using a tube of "Shoe Goo", for glue, I painted the entire body. Into the glue I matted gray-colored theatrical hair. Finally I took some "Uncle Ben's" Minute Rice, and plastered a few kernels in strategic places around the nose, ears, and body. They looked like real maggots. Disgusting! When I was done, I had a very dead looking rat. Now, when I'm teaching, as I relate John's story, I put my hand into a white plastic bag and pull the "dead rat" out of a box by its tail. The effect is instant.
The reaction of one young lady I was teaching etched itself permanently in my mind. She never made a sound. In one fluid motion, with eyes as big as dinner plates, she ejected both feet off the floor drawing them under herself and at the same time spun her chair 180 degrees, all with the ease of a gold medal gymnast. I still don't understand how she did it but, when I next glanced in her direction, both arms were tightly wrapped around herself as she peered back over her shoulder at the offending visual aid. The look on her face screamed silent horror!
I usually assure the students at this point that the rat is just a rubber one. Some are still not convinced as it does look pretty realistic. But, the story and the visual aid do communicate very well. It helps folks understand somewhat of the awfulness of sin, how holy God is, and how distanced we are from Him because of our sinful condition.
Yes, wonder of wonders, "Jesus came to earth." That a holy God, motivated by His great love, should leave heaven's pristine glory and come to this corrupt earth, is mind boggling. What mercy! What grace! The apostle Paul had a sense of this wonder. He declared, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15)
*TERM is an acronym for The Emmaus Road Message.
This story is related in The Stranger On The Road To Emmaus and All that the Prophets have Spoken on pages 63 & 64, and By This Name on page 76.
Teaching with the Rat
Here is an example of how this visual aid can be used:
