LUKE: YEAR OF OUR LORD - WEEK 32 - WHO IS COUNTING THE COST?

The Bridger Wilderness just south of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming was designated in 1964 and memorializes the famous Jim Bridger. This Wilderness lies within the Wind River Mountains and offers 428,000 acres and over 600 miles of trails for the adventurous of spirit to explore over a lifetime. Extending 80 miles along the Continental Divide and holding the headwaters of the Green River, Bridger Wilderness is home to 7 out of 10 of the world's largest glaciers, hundreds of high alpine lakes, glacial cirques and wide sweeping valleys. The wilderness area gets millions of visitors each year. The following are actual responses from comment cards given to the staff members from actual visitors to Bridger:

1. Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.

2. Too many bugs and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.

3. Please pave the trails to make hiking easier.

4. The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake.

5. A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed?

6. Too many rocks in the mountains.

These comments and complaints indicate that the people who made them do not really understand what it means to stay in a "wilderness area." They were looking for something convenient and comfortable, but not truly a wilderness experience.

In a similar way, many people today do not understand what it means to be a genuine Christian. There are so many people throughout history that have responded to the Gospel of Jesus and have made a decision to trust Him as their savior. Some are fervent and fully immersed in their followership; but some who claim to be Christian seem to have made that decision on THEIR terms, rather than on His.