"Can [a person]... change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." Jer. 13:23.
Leopards live in parts of Africa, Arabia, China, India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon). They are among the most perfect members of the cat family, graceful and beautiful in their spotted furs. Most beautiful of all is the Asian, or snow leopard of China and Manchuria.
The leopard prefers to hunt alone, its tawny color and spotted pattern blending with the grasses of the prairies. This enables it to crawl through brush undetected by its intended victims. Fiercer than a lion and more cunning than a tiger, with its muscular body, strong limbs and jaws it can carry in its mouth an animal weighing half as much as itself. Holding tightly to its prey, it is strong enough to leap five feet to a tree limb and continue upward as much as 25 feet before feasting on it and leaving what it cannot eat for a later meal.
The Creator has provided it with excellent sight, smell and hearing. It is extremely patient in hunting impalas, antelopes, rabbits, etc. Selecting a victim, it may watch it for an hour or more before beginning its stalk. Then it creeps toward it until after making a swift final dash and big leap, the catch is made. At other times it may stretch out on a big limb over a game trail, entirely motionless, until something comes along, then it jumps down and takes its prize. If nothing comes by it may take a nap while up there. Killing of other animals seems cruel, but these are usually weak or sickly ones, and removing them from a herd is really beneficial to all.
Kittens are born in a cave, hollow tree, or den underneath a big rock, and the mother has the responsibility of feeding and raising them. After four months she teaches them to hunt and to take care of themselves. About two months later they leave and are on their own, probably never having seen their father.
The question asked at the heading of this article has only one answer: a person can neither change the color of his skin, nor can the leopard alter his spots. The remainder of the verse says, in effect, if you could change your skin or the leopard change his spots, then you could also change from being sinful to being good. But the Bible tells us "there is none that doeth good" and that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:12,23.
How then can we have these sins taken care of so that God will accept us? This is a most important question, and the answer is only found in the Bible: "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. This is possible because Christ died for the sins of all who accept Him as their Savior. Believing on Him is called being "born again," and everyone with this new life belongs to God as His child and is assured of spending eternity in heaven. Do you have this assurance?