The way home...
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. The Lord has really made it very simple for mankind. It is not a difficult task to find the Lord. He desires to have us look for Him, to know Him. But humankind has instead created its religions, its cathedrals, royal robes, liturgy and traditions, which deify human leaders, thereby ignoring and grieving the Holy Spirit of God. Most people are tired of the cold dead corpse of religion. Religion is the antithesis of the "awakened spirit" of a man or woman that Jesus promised they could have.
Before Jesus left His followers after rising from the dead, He told his followers to wait for the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1, He continues to tell them what the outcome of this power will provide: you will be my witnesses to the world; they would receive a boldness that they theretofore had not known.
On the day of Pentecost, the Lord poured out his Holy Spirit. It wasn't just for a "feel good" experience (although it included that) but rather it was to provide the power to overcome fear of man, fear of death, and fear of persecution, for testifying to the world of the Truth of the Lord Jesus. Peter stated, "But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened” (I Peter 3:14). The disciples suffered greatly and with joy, for being able to suffer for the name of the Lord Jesus. The Apostle Paul in Romans 5:3 says, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance." Paul, the Apostle, lists the numerous forms of persecution that he suffered in 2 Corinthians Chapter 11, much more than most of us will ever experience, yet he and others stood fast to their commitment to the One that they had met and by whom their lives were transformed from darkness to light! Glory be to the Lord! There are many in all parts of the world who still suffer many of these same things for the sake of His Truth. One does not voluntarily suffer for something that they only hope to be true. But for those things which they know are true.
God has determined the terms of redemption for mankind. The first commandment is now obsolete if those who enter into what the Messiah (Jesus) has done. If mankind wants to be free from the power of sin, we must surrender our lives to Jesus. We cannot sit in judgment on our Creator of how he does or does not provide our redemption from our sin nature. If we do, we put ourself in the position of being above God. Rather, when we understand the contract that we submit to, we will find that He is in control and He has our own best interests and protection in mind. He is a God of love, justice, truth and faithfulness. He doesn't make terms to harm us, but in His great knowledge, he sees beginning from end.
In order to find our way home to Him, we come into His grace and forgiveness and submit to His Lordship (ownership of self). It is in this surrender of ownership of self that the Lord fills our hearts to overflowing with His presence, reality, and Spirit. The very purpose of life in knowing one's Creator is settled and brings a peace previously unknown. Then can we join with the psalmist who says:
"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands, Psalm 119:10".