Fate and fortune—or getting a life from God?

It is surprising in a supposedly modern society how much evidence there is of superstition still influencing people's lives. Millions of ordinary men and women take a serious interest in what horoscopes say, and there's scarcely a large city without fortunetellers of some kind. Even the elected leaders of democratic nations have been known to consult astrologers to determine the best time for decisive actions.

Fascination with so-called fate becomes becomes a whole lot less fascinating when we see it in its true light. To accept fate, whether evil or good, would of course be to lose our capacity for choice. It is a form of extreme passivity—and who wants stars, planets, or invisible forces of some sort to be in control of one's life? There's no justice in it, and there certainly is no Christianity.

Christ Jesus taught that the only destiny we have is to be what God made us to be, which is the sons of God—children of light and not of darkness. But this doesn't mean our life is on "automatic pilot." We're required to choose, and to work, and our reward is in direct proportion to our good effort. Nor do we have to think we are subject to some evil influence of so-called fate, if we are being faithful to the light of Christ, Truth, that is constantly shining in our hearts.

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