We could describe her life in one word — boring. At night Evelyn the gorilla was locked up in her cage. During the day she was allowed to go outdoors into the gorilla yard which was surrounded by a brick wall on three sides and steel bars in the front.
Each day hundreds of visitors came to the zoo. Evelyn would watch them as they passed by. They could walk away, but because of the bars and walls she could not. Evelyn wanted to walk down that sidewalk and see what was around the corner.
One day she saw Leonel, her gorilla friend, standing by the wall. She walked over to him, climbed up his back, and stood on his shoulders, grabbed the top of the 12-foot wall, and pulled herself over. She was free!
Now it was her turn to stroll down the sidewalk. She saw people running away from her in every direction. She didn’t know why. She was just wandering around, investigating whatever she came across.
But the news of a 200-pound gorilla loose in the zoo grounds travels pretty fast. She had been free only about 45 minutes when she felt a sharp sting in the back of her leg. Seconds later she fell asleep. A zookeeper had shot her with a tranquilizer dart so she would go to sleep. Then they could put her back in her cage.
The brick wall was built several inches higher on the side where she had escaped before Evelyn was allowed to return to the yard.
The day she was allowed back in the yard it happened all over again. Leonel, as if he had been asked, stood beside the other brick wall while Evelyn climbed to his shoulders and scrambled over the wall. Evelyn had a second little trip of freedom which ended just like the first one did.
After her second breakout, Evelyn was kept in her night cage until workers could raise the entire wall several more inches. Now it is doubtful that she will be able to escape again.
Freedom is very precious, and no one should take it for granted. True freedom comes from knowing Jesus Christ, God’s Son: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36).
So that we might enjoy true freedom, “the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14). Because the Lord Jesus went to the cross and died in the sinner’s place, God can give eternal life to every person who believes on His Son.
Do believe on the Lord Jesus today. Because of your sin you will never be truly free nor be happy in this life without Him. Don’t let pride become high walls and steel bars between you and the Lord Jesus Christ. He will give you not only freedom, but peace and happiness, if you’ll only come to Him.
ML-07/19/1987