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A struggling zoo suddenly lost its main attraction when their elderly gorilla passed away.

The zoo owner knew he couldn’t afford a new gorilla, but he also knew he couldn’t afford not have a gorilla for all to see. So he asked a local man if he’d be willing to dress up in a gorilla suit and just sit in the cage eating bananas for $100 a day until they could afford a new gorilla.

That was good money and it would be easy enough. After a few hours the gentleman got bored and began to ad lib. He started waving at the children, he crawled around, and he beat on his chest in hopes of getting attention and making people intrigued, having them smile and clap.

Quickly, the new “gorilla” became the most popular craze at the zoo. People from all over are coming to see the “Human-like” gorilla. The problem arose when the gentleman realized he needed to up his game.

He began climbing some and he’d swing every now and then, and stand high on a ledge to keep people interested.

One day he decided to climb over his enclosure and hang from the net ceiling above the lions’ den next to him.

A large crowd of people gathered, watching the spectacle in awe and terror. Suddenly the man lost his grip and fells to the floor of the lions’ den. Scared to death, the man screams “Help! Help!”

Suddenly a lion pounced on top of him from behind, slapped the man in the gorilla suit’s mouth and smooshed his head down in the dirt. The man was terrified, when suddenly the lion slowly leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Be quiet, or you’re going to get us both fired.”

There are some pretty good folks pretending to be something they ain’t. Titus 1:16 warns, “They claim to know God, but they deny him by what they do.” 1 John 2:4 sharply challenges, “Whoever says, ‘I know him’, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” Jesus asks in Luke 6:48 “Why do you call me Lord but don’t do what I tell you?”

You see, folks can dress a part or even act and sound right, but be way off. We are called to live our faith out loud. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. BE the church. Go spread God’s love and grace. Let folks see you are the real thing and not just acting the part. It’s hard to do things alone, so get plugged in and grow. #bethegood

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.