“For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12).
Introduction
Open up any daily newspaper and there will be found predictions for today, tomorrow and the future. The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines astrology as a “type of divination that consists in forecasting earthly and human events by means of observing and interpreting the fixed stars.” People go to palm readers, astrologers and others who claim to foretell the future, to find out what is going to happen to them in the days ahead.
Man cannot know the future
“A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?” … “Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?” (Ecclesiastes 10:14; 3:22). The equivalent New Testament passage that confirms Solomon’s teaching is found in James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.”
Surely, amongst the millions of soothsayers and fortune-tellers, God could have found one who was able to interpret the signs contained in His revelation to the church! “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon” (Revelation 5:1-3). No man, no devil or angel has the power to predict and reveal future events. The only One who know what tomorrow holds is Christ Himself, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof” (Revelation 5:5). Why? Because He is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8) and He is the One “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10), for He says of Himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 21:6).
The Bible offers us a panoramic view of the future of the earth. The devil, through so-called astrologers, does not want anyone knowing man’s destiny without God. He does not want them to know of the Lake of Fire that awaits every soul, devil and even Satan himself. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Though occult practices are inspired and instigated by Satan, the Bible actually declares them to be works of the flesh, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Horoscopes, tarot cards and crystal balls cannot foretell the future, but are tools of deception that send souls to Hell. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Today is enough
We cannot change the past, and we cannot know the future, but we can address the problems of today. If we could know the future, then it would give us more concern, fear and worry. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He hold the future
And life is worth the living - just because He lives.
Even with regards to the need of accepting Christ as Saviour, the Bible never suggests that a person plans to do so on a certain date. “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). It is “now” and “today”, not in an hour or next week, because no one knows if he is good for his next breath. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:16-20).
Let us leave our future in the hands of the One who knows all things. “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10). Only then will “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). The only time we should make sure everything is in order is the present. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
Conclusion
Astrology, and other forms of trying to peer into the future, is man’s attempt to be his own god, and thus have control over his destiny. Bible-believing Christians ought to stay clear of anything to do with any occult practice and teach others to do likewise. “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:19). Our future is not in the cards, stars or tea leaves, but in Christ.
"I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand,
With God things don't just happen,
Everything by Him is planned;
So as I face tomorrow,
With its problems large and small,
I'll trust the God of miracles,
Give to Him my all."
(A.B. Smith.)
© 12/5/2008