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The Lord Jesus Christ offers not only comfort from our burdens in this life but most especially the true rest in the heavenly kingdom.
ASTROLOGY is the belief that the stars and planets strongly influence people’s lives. Those who are into it claim that “to understand its appeal is to get comfortable with paradoxes: It feels simultaneously cosmic and personal; spiritual and logical; ineffable and concrete; real and unreal” (Beck, 2018). Aside from astrology, there are also dozens and quite possibly hundreds of methods of prediction that fit into the category of divination. Since earliest times, some people have gazed into the skies to predict their future—“from the Babylonians and Egyptians in 2,000 BC to the Greeks and Romans in 200 BC” (Holden, 1996).
In the same vein, lucky charms are prevalent in most world cultures, and have been for eons. They might be a pair of socks, or a piece of jewelry; whatever the item, or even the arrangement of living spaces according to what they claim as mystical energy levels—some people turn to them to help achieve a goal.
Be that as it may, luck and belief in astrology and augury certainly would not help anyone escape from the condemnation of God. Prophet Isaiah even spoke with derision to those who believe in such:
“Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror. All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make prediction month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. Here are no coals to warm anyone; here is no fire to sit by.” (Isa. 47:12-14 New International Version)
Such is very offensive before the Almighty God (Deut. 18:10-12 NIV). However, what makes them appealing to others is their promise to supply answers for both the “big” and “little” questions people regularly face. But then, the Bible teaches that God Himself, not the stars, will guide us in our life’s journey and big decisions:
“Our God is merciful and tender. He will cause the bright dawn of salvation to rise on us and to shine from heaven on all those who live in the dark shadow of death, to guide our steps into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 Good News Bible)
The Almighty God reveals to us that the key to receiving His blessings is obedience to His commands (Isa. 48:17-18 GNB), not in performing vain rituals or obtaining any fancy object. All forms of augury then must be rejected. Trusting in them instead of in God’s providence is a gross violation of the first and greatest commandment. Apostle Paul urged us to test everything and hold fast to that which is good (I Thess. 5:21) and not to be deceived by empty philosophy (Col. 2:8), false prophets (Matt. 7:15), or any belief that leads people away from the Lord God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Those things have the same jarring ramification: to lead people into embracing false doctrine, thus distorting their understanding of God’s revealed truth.
Hence, believing in horoscopes and the like, and even in lucky charms, is hardly an innocent and harmless activity. They are, in fact, very dangerous, that is why they should be avoided at all costs.
What is necessary to man’s life is not luck, but the truth. The truth is the words of God (John 17:17). The truth that will lead us to salvation is spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ:
“So Jesus spoke again: ‘In very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold.
“I am the door: anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe’” (John 10:7, 9 Revised English Bible).
The sheepfold or flock where people should come into or enter is none other than the “Church Of Christ” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). Our aspiration to be safe, secured, and protected should lead us not to divination methods but to the true Church Of Christ, which is guaranteed with redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ. The correct path is not in or among the stars in the sky; rather, the right path is Christ, and to walk in Him is to obey His commands, one of which is to enter His Church.
The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Ps. 8:3; 19:1 NKJV). He has all the stars numbered and named (Ps. 147:4). However, it should be clear to us that stars and planets have no power of themselves but are governed by God.
Gazing at the stars should awaken our wonder of God’s power, wisdom, and infinitude. We could use the stars to keep track of time and place and, more importantly, to remind us that God is faithful and almighty. All the while, we acknowledge the Creator of the heavens. Our wisdom comes from God (James 1:5), not the stars. The Word of God, the Bible, should be our guide through life (Ps. 119:105), not the movement of the planets. Our Savior is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:31), not a lucky amulet. We have to make sure that we obey God’s will, and not psychics, horoscopes, lucky charms, Ouija boards, feng shui, magical statues, and the like—because, as Apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 12:9, God’s grace is enough.
References
Julie Beck, “The New Age Of Astrology,” 18 January 2018, The Atlantic
James Herschel Holden, A History of Horoscopic Astrology, 1996
