Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream, or so I’ve heard it told. The sides of the bucket were shiny and steep, the cream was deep and cold.

“Oh, what the us?” said No. 1, “”Tis fate-no help’s around. Goodby, my friend. Goodbye, sad world.” And weeping still, he drowned.

But No. 2, of sterner stuff, dog-paddled in surprise, the while he wiped his creamy face, and dried his creamy eyes.

I’ll swim a bit, at least, he thought.  Or so I’ve heard it said.  it wouldn’t really help the world if one more frog were dead.

An hour or two he kicked and swam. Not once he stopped to mutter. But kicked and swam, and swam, and kicked. Then hopped out, via butter.   *Author Unknown

This story definitely has some  truth to it.  Frog #2 persevered in the cream bucket and to his surprise, it turned into a solid substance, so he didn’t drown.  However, how many buckets do we fall into that are filled with a substance that turns into a solid with enough kicking and swimming?  It would be convenient and easy if we could get ourselves out of the situations and circumstances that are drowning us.  It seems that many of the states of mind I find myself drowning in are not gelling and becoming firm – not matter how much I kick and beat my fists against them.

I read Psalm 118 today, and a whole new meaning of the word salvation opened up to me.  So often in the evangelical church, our language is about getting saved, receiving salvation, etc.  The word “salvation” is not foreign to those who have been around preachers long enough.  Say a prayer, and you’re saved.  Some day you will go to heaven.

All that news is wonderful, glorious, and full of promise for the future.  Yet, if someone were falling off a cliff today, would this promise of a future be what saves them?  A man who is free falling has one theme on his mind.  “Save me!”  “Help me quickly!”  I’m going to die!

Psalm 118:13 – the psalmist was pushed hard, so that he was falling.  He couldn’t stop his free fall. And likely, he couldn’t stop his thoughts of impending pain and death.  He needed immediate help.  Answer me quickly, Lord, my heart fails. This guy needed a place to stand.  He needed salvation.  And The Lord helped him.

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14.

Instantly, miraculously – the Lord intervened.  God did something to save him.  Like a lifestar helicopter, a bucket came down from heaven and lifted him out of this near-death experience.  Pulled him to life. A man who was dying now had the strongest arm in the universe around him.

Isn’t that ultimately what salvation is all about?  If God can save us from sin so that we can go to heaven, can He not save us from anything that threatens to take us down to the pit.

The answer faith gives is yes.