Can a Black man change his skin?
Ever notice how the Bible uses questions about the natural world to cause us to think about the spiritual world? For example, "Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?" (James 3:11). "By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16). Can a leopard change its spots? Can the Ethiopian change his skin? (Jeremiah 13:23). Can I change my skin? Let's consider the touchy topic of skin or race. I offer three observations:
First of all, we didn't choose our skin. Imagine this fictional scene. Before I was born into this world, I hovered in another dimension beyond time and space. From this different dimension, I can comprehend all the current events on planet Earth, as well as the past and future events of all nations. After learning all about what will happen in this world, I decide to be born in America, in South Carolina, in the 20th century, as a Black man.
That's the making of an interesting Twilight Zone episode, but that's not the way I recall it happening. Actually, I don’t recall having any say in the matter. By the time I became aware of myself, I was already wearing my skin. My sister claims she can remember when she was a wee little baby in her crib. We get a laugh out of that. And how can I prove her wrong? But she never claims to be aware of herself prior to being born!
The popular British minister Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Be not proud of race, face, place, or grace.” Before your appearance onto the stage of life, did you provide any input regarding your race, face or place? Of course not! If we had no input in choosing our skin, how can we brag about our skin? If I didn’t have any say about the skin I’m wearing, where is the cause for boasting?
The apostle Paul put it this way, "...that none of you be puffed up against one another. For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:6-7). We didn't choose our skin, we "received" our skin.
Secondly, our skin (race) is no dearer to God than another skin. Black supremacy is a lie. Yellow supremacy, White supremacy, Red supremacy are all delusions. In Romans chapter three, the apostle is dealing with the issue of Jewish supremacy. He says: "What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written, 'There is no one righteous; no, not one. ...They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one' " (Romans 3:9-10,12). This condemnation of being “under sin” applies to all individuals of all races!
The Bible tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). Is the prophet referring to only Jewish hearts being deceitful and wicked? I think not! I think he’s referring to the hearts of all humans. Current events from every corner of the globe attest to this fact, "The heart is deceitful and wicked..." God didn't say, "That particular skin color is deceitful and wicked..." The repentant King David, when confessing his sin against Uriah, prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God…” (Psalm 51:10). And in Psalm 86:11 he asked of the Lord, “Unite my heart to fear thy name.” All races are under sin, hence no race is dearer to God than another race. Sinfulness and holiness are matters of the heart, not matters of our skin.
Lastly, we can't will ourselves into a different skin (race). When you read the whole passage in Jeremiah 13:23, you realize that’s the essence of what Jeremiah means by the question, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin?” The entire verse reads: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.” The answers are obvious. A leopard can’t change his spots. I can’t change my skin. And those who are accustomed to doing evil are not inclined to do good. Why not? Because it’s not a part of our fallen nature. Furthermore, we’re powerless to change our nature. In Proverbs 20:9, we find a noteworthy question: Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?” No one!
Here’s the spiritual point. I can’t change my heart any more than I can change my skin. Human potential and the ability of the flesh can only take us so far. We may modify our outward behavior, but we can’t change our core nature. We can decide to not tell so many “little white lies” at work, and we may actually see some improvement. But in spite of that, our old sin nature remains intact and unaltered. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Our flesh, however modified, is still flesh. Because of the fall, we’re all under sin. And it simply isn’t possible for us to change our sinful nature. In other words, we can not make our hearts pure, we can't save ourselves. So, what must we do?
“For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ” (Romans 10:11-13). What must we do? We cry out to the LORD to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves! See the “Jesus is Lord” tab to learn how we’re saved only by God’s good grace and not by our good works.
The sin of racism is one of three shortcomings we will overcome if we experience "The Spiritual Awakening of America." Our nation is in trouble. Political remedies have failed us. A true spiritual awakening is our only solution! Click on the title or book to order your copy today!
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!
