Will you love me? Should I travel today? Will they give me the job?
IN ORDER to answer these types of questions, many people turn to astrology. And you, what do you think? Is it true that the stars influence your life? Will they really be able to teach you anything about your future or yourself? What does the Bible say about it?
Do the stars determine your future?
There are those who believe that no one can escape destiny. They affirm that the future has been written long ago and that the stars can reveal it to us. But the Bible doesn’t teach that; Rather, it shows that the Creator gives human beings the opportunity to choose, which implies that they have some control over what happens to them in life. For example, God told the Israelites: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and evil; and you must choose life in order to keep yourself alive, you and your offspring” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
With these words, Jehovah God made it clear to his servants that they had a high degree of freedom to shape their future for themselves. If they obeyed the commands he gave them, they would receive many blessings, but if not, they would cause themselves great suffering.
Consider this: If the destiny of the Israelites had been written in the stars, would it have made sense for God to encourage them to “choose life”? Would it have even been fair for him to hold them accountable for acts over which they had no control?
The Bible’s explanation is clear: the direction our lives take depends on our choices, not the stars (Galatians 6:7).
Do the stars affect your personality?
Most astrologers reject the concept of predestination. One of them comments: “We are the ones who determine our destiny.” But then he adds: “The moment we are born influences the structure of our personality.” Many people think the same. He believes that if the stars and planets exert a physical effect on Earth, there is no reason why they cannot also exert a metaphysical, or immaterial, effect . What does the Word of God teach on the subject?
The Bible is not a scientific treatise containing even the smallest detail about the human body and the universe. However, it does explain the purpose for which Jehovah created the heavenly bodies. Genesis 1:14, 15 states: “And God said: ‘Let there be stars in the firmament of heaven to separate the day from the night, to mark festivals, days and years; and serve as lamps from heaven to illuminate the earth’” (The Bible of Our People, 2006).
Consider this: If God had created the stars with the power to influence our personalities, wouldn’t He have let us know?
What conclusion do we reach? That the stars are part of creation, but they do not affect our personality.
A better option
Those who wish to investigate their future or know themselves are worthy of praise. However, there is a better way to get that information than by consulting the stars.
The Scriptures teach that Jehovah is “He who declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). He has a stated purpose and will fulfill it without fail (Isaiah 55:10, 11). This purpose can be discovered by reading the Bible. This ancient sacred text also explains why there is so much suffering and what God will do to end the problems that plague humanity (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation [Revelation] 21:1-4).
If your desire is to know yourself better and polish your personality, there is no better tool than the Word of God. Because? Because reading it encourages frank self-analysis. For example, the Bible says that Jehovah is “merciful” and “slow to anger,” and that he is “ready to forgive” (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:5). And we? We are that way? As we see, the Scriptures can bring to light errors in our thinking and help us discover aspects of our personality that require attention.
So there is no need to consult the stars to find out what tomorrow holds for us or to know ourselves. The Bible is a better option, as it is “inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for rebuking, [and] for setting things right” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).