It’s in the Stars! Or Is It?

Interviewer: Here we are again. Thank You for coming.
God: Always a pleasure. Shall we get down to business?
Interviewer: A subject I have been meaning to ask about is astrology-the effect that the planets and stars supposedly have on our personalities and destinies.
God: On personalities, yes, destinies, no.
Interviewer: So there is some truth to it?
God: Yes, that is one of the ways that I designed things, so each person’s personality is unique. The planets and stars work like an incredibly complex apparatus in this regard. Their positions in relation to each other are always changing, so that the planet and star chart is almost unique for every person and thus bestows varying personality traits.
Interviewer: But what if we are saddled with a personality we don’t particularly like?
God: The design the planets and stars give is just the basic pattern. There are good traits and not-so-good traits to each of the so-called astrological signs, but each person doesn’t have to leave it at that. You are given the ability to improve yourself. If you don’t like the way you are, you can change. But the influence of the stars is not the only thing to shape your personality. Other factors are genetic and environmental. However, more important than personality is character.
Interviewer: Meaning one’s ethical and moral strength.
God: Exactly.
Interviewer: But before, You stated that being ethical or moral has no bearing on getting into Heaven.
God: That is a different issue. I did not mean to make it sound like I was denigrating people who are ethical, or saying that it is not important to be moral. I was talking about salvation, which is a free gift granted to you upon accepting Jesus into your life and heart.
Interviewer: So what is the good of being ethical if it has no bearing on your entry into Heaven?
God: It has a lot to do with your inner well-being and happiness in this life. And standing up for what is right will not go without reward in the life to come. You will not regret it, I can assure you. Getting in the door of Heaven is one thing, but it is certainly shortsighted if that is all you strive for. How well you fare in Heaven will have a great deal to do with how you lived your life on earth.
Interviewer: But Jesus was particularly scathing in His attacks on the Pharisees of His day. Weren’t they ethical and moral?
God: There were some who were righteous, but many were hypocrites who only pretended to be “good” on the outside while inside they were seething with hate and venom, as was borne out by their banding together with their avowed opponents, the Sadducees, in calling for Jesus’ execution. They were far from moral or ethical, but were only self-righteous. Self-righteousness stinks, and it is usually obvious to everyone except the person who has it that it stinks.
Interviewer: Self-righteousness isn’t goodness, You are saying.
God: That is correct; don’t confuse self-righteousness with ethical and moral strength. Those of truly strong character, even if they may appear weak, will stand up for what is right and good against the odds. The vast majority of people usually seem to end up on the wrong sides of issues, so don’t look for people of character in the mob calling for blood. You won’t find them there.