Since the mid-1960s, there has been an immense
increase in the popularity of divination, or fortune telling, among
young people all over the globe. Divination is an occult practice
where a person foretells future events or gains secret knowledge
regarding someone's personality and life. Popular methods of
divination are: astrology, tarot cards, palm reading psychic
consultations, mediums and Ouija boards.
Why have these practices (especially
astrology) become so popular in our modern “scientific” culture?
Because people want personal guidance in their lives. People want to
know the future, because knowledge of the future means control of
the future. Control of the future, through occult means, is supposed
to give a person an advantage over others. This advantage entails
power. People want to predestinate their own lives through
foreknowledge. A key element in divination is that people seek this
knowledge on their own terms. Psychics and those who cast astrology
charts generally give out vague good news to their customers. If
they gave out bad news, they would go out of business. “This is a
rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the
law of the Lord: which say to seers, ‘See not’; and to the prophets,
‘Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things,
prophesy deceits’” (Is. 30:9,10).
Therefore, astrologers, psychics
and all diviners, by nature, are false prophets. “The secret which
the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the
magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king. But there is a God
in heaven that revealeth secrets (Dan. 2:27,28). This does not mean
that psychics have never been right. Through coincidence and demonic
deception many people are deceived into becoming followers of these
occult practices. When it comes to divination, Satan's tactic is
simple: give people what they want, tell them what they want to
hear. “The prophets prophesy falsely and my people love to have it
so” (Jeremiah 5:31).
The Word of
God speaks clearly and forcefully regarding this issue. God says
that divination is worthless and deceitful, “they prophesy unto you
a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit
of their heart” (Jer. 14:14). The Lord proclaims that diviners are
liars and false prophets, “they prophesy a lie unto you” (Jer.
27:10). He says that those who practice divination will not be a
part of his people, “they shall not be in the assembly of my people”
(Ezek. 13: 9). God says that divination is false, futile, nonsense
and lies, “a vain vision, a lying divination” (Ezek. 13:7). Diviners
have not been sent by the Lord God, “the Lord hath not sent them”
(Ezek. 13:6). The Lord does not speak through them, “ye say, ‘The
Lord saith it’; albeit I have not spoken” (Ezek. 13:7).
God tells
his people not to worry about the signs in the heavens (i.e.
astrology), because “the customs of the people [including astrology]
are vain” (i.e. useless, futile; Jer. 10:3). The Lord through the
prophet Isaiah proclaimed a severe judgment against astrologers,
“Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the
astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up,
and save thee from these things that shall 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; none shall save
thee” (Is. 7:13-15).
If you
believe in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be
saved. You will have eternal life. “And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal
life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For, God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God” (John 3:14-18).
Perhaps you are thinking, “come on
what’s the big deal? I only read the astrology page in the
newspaper.” Or, “My friends and I have a séance once in a while, so what? Its just good clean fun.” The basic
problem with that thinking is that it is man-centered. It totally
ignores what God has said regarding divination. The Bible says that
God hates divination in any form with a holy hatred. “Thou shalt not
learn to do after the abominations of [the] nations. There shall not
be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to
pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of
times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter
with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that
do these things are an abomination unto the Lord” (Deut. 18:9-12).
If you are involved in astrology in any way, or if you consult with
a psychic, you are detestable before God. You are an abomination in
the sight of the Lord.
In Acts
16:16-18, a girl who had a spirit of divination (or, in modern
jargon, was a “psychic”), had these powers only because she was
possessed by a demon. Apostle Paul cast this demon out, in the name
of Jesus Christ, and set the poor girl free of this dark oppression.
Why does God hate divination? Because it is a demonic, unauthorized
form of revelation. God has given to mankind a perfect, infallible
guide for salvation, life and godly living. This guide is the Bible.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
Satan was the first diviner in
history. When Adam and Eve obeyed Satan rather than God, they
were seeking a shortcut to power and dominion. God had promised
Adam eternal life, if he perfectly obeyed God’s command not to
eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commanded
Adam and Eve “to be fruitful and multiply” and fill the earth
(Gen. 1:28). Adam was given dominion over the earth in order to
develop a godly culture–one which would glorify, obey and enjoy
fellowship with the Creator. In order to develop a worldwide
godly culture, mankind would be totally dependent on God's Word
(before the Fall through direct communication) for personal and
societal ethics. If anyone needed personal guidance, they would
receive it from God. Adam and Eve rejected God's plan, believed
Satan's word and decided to follow their own ethical standard
(cf. Gen. 3:1-6). The result of disobedience to God's word is
death (cf. Gen. 2:17), spiritual death and slavery to sin and
Satan in this life; physical death, hell and the lake of fire in
the future. When people seek the answer to life's problems
through divination, they only make matters worse.
It is a
normal part of human nature that drives people to seek dominion over
the earth. It is understandable that people want success in life. It
is perfectly rational to seek out ways of overcoming life's
problems; but to do so apart from God's Word is a form of idolatry
and self-worship. Jesus Christ said, “Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also... No man can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will
hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon [i.e. riches].... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”
(Matthew 6:19-21,24,33). There is no neutrality. True success, and
lasting dominion, can only come by placing Christ first in your
life. The only way to have a meaningful life is by believing in
Jesus Christ and repenting of your wicked life-style. Instead of the
vain, idiotic babbling of the diviners, you must submit to Christ's
Word as your blueprint for living.
Perhaps you
are asking, “Why do I need to believe in Jesus Christ? Aren't the
accounts of His virgin birth, crucifixion and resurrection myths
made up by the early Christian church?” Absolutely not! The apostle
Peter said, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we
made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but
were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). God came to earth
and dwelt in human flesh (cf. Philippians 2:5-8). He was born of a virgin,
in Bethlehem (cf. Matthew 1:23-2:1). Jesus lived a sinless life (cf. John 8:46). He was tortured and crucified as a blood atonement for
his people. “Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation
[i.e. Christ appeases God's just wrath against sin] through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at
this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26).
Jesus
Christ died on the cross and was laid in a tomb for three days (cf.
Matt. 27:50,60). On the third day, he rose from the dead, victorious
over sin, the world, death and Satan. “But now is Christ risen from
the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [i.e. died].
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of
the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end,
when he shall have delivered the kingdom to God, even the Father,
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death” (1 Cor. 15:20-26).
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (cf. Acts 1:9) and sits on the
right hand of God the Father (cf. Heb. 1:3). Jesus Christ now
personally intercedes for those who believe in him. “If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
What about you? Are you
going to trust in Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sins? Or,
will you continue to lead a life characterized by self-worship?
Divination won't save you. It will drag you into the pit of hell,
“into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
(Matt. 8:12).
Copyright © Brian Schwertley, Lansing, Michigan,
1998
