HAVE you a little- cat at home, with bright green eyes and scratchy claws? The leopard belongs to the cat family, but he is a great fierce fellow, with. a fawn fur coat, all spotted with black. He lives in the forest of Africa and India, and is not at all friendly.
Suppose now that a big fierce spotty leopard decided one day that he would not like to be spotty any more. How long would it take him to lick off all his spots? How long would it take him to clean off just one spot?
When you have answered that question, and are quite sure of it, then read Jeremiah 13:2323Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23). "Can ... the leopard change his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
If the leopard can't change his spots, then you can't do good. God says so, and we must not answer Him again.
Of course we may appear “good” before our friends, but it is God speaking in that verse. You and I are accustomed to do evil, We were born in sin, and our sinful nature soon displays itself. If unsaved you can't do good in the sight of God. God says you cannot. (Romans 3: 12.)
What then? "Ye must he born again." John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7). These are the words of the blessed Lord Jesus, when He was on earth. If you are "born again, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever," 1 Peter 1:23,23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23) then those spots of sin are gone in the sight of God, gone, washed away in the precious blood of Christ. Are you born again? Are you willing to come to Jesus for this glorious new birth, and to be given a life which delights to please God? You, poor unsaved sinner, cannot do one good thing in the sight of God, until you are born again.
Messages of the Love of God 3/23/1952