If you can see a musician in person or if you have a chance to meet that person, why would you just settle for something they've made like a recording? Sadly, many people in their search for spiritual answers have made a tragic mistake like that. They've gotten all involved with something God made or a religion that represents Him, but they have missed meeting Him in person!
In Mark 12:34 from the Word of God, Jesus made a sobering statement about a spiritual "near miss." The man He said it to had a lot of Bible knowledge and spiritual understanding but not a personal commitment to Jesus. Jesus said, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." He was almost there, but not there yet. That means there will be people who come very close to doing what they must do in order to get to heaven. It's like a man who misses his airplane flight by only seconds.
Maybe you've found your spiritual experience in creation - in the mountains, the ocean, or the universe. That's good, but that's not God. God talks about that in Romans 1:20-21: "Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile..." That's what happens when you stop at what God made and you don't go on to a personal relationship with the God who made it! If you think what He's produced is impressive, wait until you meet Him!
Maybe you've gotten as close to Jesus as a religion that's about Him. Your church or your religion is only a representation of the One you need to know personally and only an introduction to Him. Religion can be a nice way to miss God. If you think your religion does something for you, wait until you meet the One the religion is just representing! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). It's Jesus that gets you to heaven, not Christianity. One of the greatest spiritual dangers in the world is to put your trust in a Christian religion or a Christian belief, and miss putting your trust in Jesus.
Make sure you experience the real thing - an eternal love relationship with Jesus Himself. It's not practicing a religion. It's responding to His love with total trust, responding with all your heart to His pouring out all His life for you when He died on the cross to take your place and absorb all of God's punishment for your sin. It's responding to this Rescuer from heaven who blew the doors off His grave on Easter morning. It's not enough just to know He did those things any more than it would be enough for a drowning person to know that a lifeguard could save him. You have to grab Him and hold onto Him as your only hope.
Even with all your spirituality and religion, maybe that hole in your heart is still empty. That's because of the missing person in your life - Jesus. The Bible says you were made by Him and for Him, and this can be the day you finally meet Him in your soul! He promised that upon your invitation He will come in. Your lifelong search for meaning, for love, and ultimately for God ends at the feet of Jesus. It's time to come home.