The Parable of the Frogs and Free-will.

The Parable of the Frogs and Free-will.

By Louis Soto

A parable of the salvation of two frogs. Every Saturday during the summer months I go out to handle all of my outdoor chores. I usually tackle pool maintenance first. Turn on the filter, check to see if a back washing is necessary, check pool chemical levels… Then I get into adding chlorine tabs, shock, and PH/Alkalinity … Oftentimes, I find frogs swimming in the pool or caught in the skimmer baskets. Today I found two frogs swimming desperately, but not able to find a landing to rest on. If I add the chemicals the high concentration of chlorine would cause the frogs’ deaths and a painful one at that. Sometimes when I add the shock I accidentally get some on me and it burns. There was no way these frogs were getting out alive. These frogs need to be saved or they will surely meet with a slow and agonizing death. If I were to apply the common “free will” gospel message I might throw a floating device and offer the frogs salvation; encouraging them to leave this water that is cool and refreshing and that they instinctively are drawn to. I would plea with them to turn from their natural ways and be saved. I didn’t think that would work… I’ve never really believed frogs to have a “free will” After all; their will will always be influenced by their wants, circumstances, conditioning, and instincts and affected by bigger wills around them. So I thought, if I have offered them a way out and they persist on staying in the pool… I am free to go ahead and throw the chemicals in. However, I felt responsible to do more because I could and knew the frogs were limited in their understanding of their fate. Foolish frogs! So I ran inside and got a wire hanger and offered the frogs direct contact hoping that they would just grab onto the wire so that I could pull them to safety. They played dead…ridiculous! They would float on their backs until I pulled away. I guess they thought my offer of salvation was a threat to them. Have I done enough yet…? After all, it appears the frogs just don’t want my help.

I just couldn’t stand the thought of going ahead with my plans because of the grievous consequences to the frogs.  So I purposed in my heart to save the frogs despite their ignorant insistence that would lead to their demise. I led them closer to me, reached in and quickly scooped them out. I don’t like handling frogs, but it was necessary. One hopped off into the grass, the other jumped right back into the pool. What the heck..? Should I be a gentleman and not impose my will on the frog? Absolutely must! My responsibility as one who could do something to alter the terrible outcome required me to intervene. I couldn’t just leave it up to the frogs to choose rightly. So I scooped him out again and carried him to my Koi pond and dropped him in. He was pleased with the fresh water and stones where he could rest. I did all I could to assure a good outcome to one who was not able to save himself.

The gospel message as it is often preached today would have God do less. Yes, the message that Jesus paid for our sins is taught… but it is limited in that our salvation depends on our cooperating with God by believing, repenting, accepting, being baptized, and good works, whatever a particular denomination may teach. These are all good things that God wants for us and from us…. but the frogs would certainly have perished if I waited for the frogs to believe that I could save them. So will the majority of God’s creation if God left it to the folly of man with seared consciences to figure it out and get it right. If God is greater than me and I know He is, He must certainly do all that He can to save mankind; despite themselves. Anything less would mean that God didn’t do everything He could as I did with the frogs.

1 Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the WORLD. Let’s hope that God does as thorough a job at saving the world as I did with the frogs.

Because He can He will… that is my hope.