Trust in God, not the stars, Pastor warns

Astrology is becoming very popular, with many people regarding it to be a source of wise counsel. Who was born under what sign versus which sign is compatible with which, is now a source of guidance for how partners are chosen. For curiosity and amusement, millions of ordinary citizens read the daily horoscopes but in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, God emphatically states that we should "abstain from all appearance of evil".

But what does the Bible say about those who consult with astrologers and use astrology as guidance for their lives? Isaiah 47:13-15 states that "All the counsel you have received has only worn you out. Let now the astrologers and stargazers who make predictions month by month, stand up and save thee from these things that will come upon thee. Behold they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame ... there is not one that can save you."

Pastor Dean Thompson of the Chapelton Seventh-day Adventist Church states that "Astrology is a practice that dates back as far as ancient Babylon where stars were used to guide people's lives. But God doesn't want us to put our confidence in those things because He wants us to trust Him. He is the one that made the stars and the moon so we shouldn't be looking to those things to guide our lives, we should look to Him."

A TRICK OF THE ENEMY

Pastor Thompson told Family and Religion that although some people say they try it and it works for them, it is a trick of the enemy who seeks to use other means to deceive us from looking to God. "The Bible teaches of these things that especially in the last days, the enemy will come with these things to deceive the people, but we should seek our counsel from God instead of astrology, because when we look to these things we open up ourselves to all kinds of things."

He lamented that people want everything that God has to offer, but not everybody wants God himself because what He offers comes with the conditions of us accepting and worshipping him and serving him so what you find now is that people turn to somebody who can read their palm and look at the stars and tell you, you will get these things without going to God. It is just the enemy's way of deceiving people and keeping us in darkness, but we have to know God for ourselves and follow him."

He explained that because many people have a desire to know the future, they consult somebody who can tell them what will happen and so they will prefer to follow that medium than to follow the word of God, The word of God tells us to follow a certain pattern or to walk in a certain way and what to do and not to do and we might not want to follow all of that so sometimes people get drawn to these things. It will be better for us to read our Bibles and go on our knees, but because we don't always know where God is leading us when He leads we prefer to check the horoscope because it gives us a pattern to follow. We must just have to have faith in God and trust Him and follow Him.

Our wisdom comes from God, not the stars the word of God- the Bible, should be our guide through life.

familyandreligion@gleanerjm.com