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“Can a Leopard change his spots?” What a thought provoking question that is. I guess God asks man questions to make him think. Like to Adam, “Where art thou?” or to Cain, “Where is Able thy brother?” God knows all things, why would He ask man any questions?
Jesus asked his disciples questions, and the Pharisees questions, and to an adulteress who had been delivered, “Where are thine accusers?” Asking questions is a much used teaching tool. But about the matter of the leopard and his spots, can he change them?
Unfortunately and sadly, the answer is “No”. Some things define a leopard and distinguish him from all other creatures, his shape, his size, his spots, his eyes. One of the bewildering things in life is, the stages and phases of it. People act like they want you to overcome your flaws, faults and imperfections (your spots).
So you, with a sincere desire and ambition, go to work to improve and win their favor. You make, as one of your main goals, to become a better person, to transform yourself from an old chunk of coal to a diamond. You work on those bad habits, you pay added attention to your character, your posture, your manners, etc.
It ain’t easy, but you work at making yourself over, your goal, a more pleasing, likeable person. A less abrasive, obnoxious person, but with all your best efforts to improve, you’re still a leopard with spots. Change as you may, people will always see your spots.
Oceans of peroxide will not remove them. I have gone through a major reformation, a reprogramming of my outlooks and attitude, a transformation from stingy to generous, from selfish to giving, from lazy to industrious. But when I’m viewed by others, I’m still old spot!
Once a leopard, always a leopard I suppose. In the case of the actual spots on the leopard, remember they were put there by the divine designer, God Himself. He found them perfectly appropriate, and beautiful. Jacob was made rich with spotted cattle and sheep.
But “Can the leopard change his spots?” – Does it really matter?
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