A Nature Hard to Change

# A Nature Hard to Change

In Vietnamese folk sayings and proverbs, there is an idiom: "Even if you beat someone to death, their nature will not spare them." This saying expresses a lesson in human morality and reflects the Vietnamese people's very realistic understanding that human nature is difficult to change—violence and punishment cannot eliminate bad habits! Nature is an inner character expressed through outward habits that have become so deeply rooted over the years that even violence and punishment cannot transform or improve them.

This also reveals a profound truth: Real change must come from within, not from external pressure. This truth is expressed in Scripture, when God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil" (Jeremiah 13:23). Like the meaning of the proverb above, God knew from the beginning that people cannot correct their own evil nature, just as an Ethiopian cannot change his skin or a leopard cannot change its spots. People accustomed to doing evil have deeply ingrained their sinful nature and cannot remove it themselves. Those who habitually do evil will continue doing evil, constantly going astray, and leading to death! As the ancient saying goes, "A horse returns to its old path."

More seriously, Scripture tells us that sin is not merely an action, but an inner nature—arising from thoughts and inclinations of the heart, leading to actions that contradict God's Word. Moreover, people, and even God's own people, are helpless before sin. Though they strive to change and desire to do good, they cannot accomplish it. The apostle Paul expressed this struggle within himself: "I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it" (Romans 7:18-20).

To overcome sin, we have only one way: to allow the Almighty God to rule over every aspect of our lives. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Violence cannot drive demons out of us weak humans, but only the supernatural power of God can cast them out. As for us, let us fear the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind. Let us meditate on His Word day and night, and faithfully obey it. God's Word guides us in His perfect will, bringing us peace and blessing: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). God's Word helps us avoid sin and live holy before Him: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11). God's Word gives us wisdom and illuminates us to know what is right to do and what is wrong to avoid: "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130).

Sin and all evil are cleansed only when we repent before God and rely on His power. Violence cannot change what is within a person: "Even if you beat someone to death, their nature will not spare them." Only the blood of Christ cleanses our sin, and His Holy Spirit sanctifies our spiritual life: "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:13-14). So first, come to God, confess your sins and repent, abandon the path of wickedness, so that "evil nature" departs from us, and God's Holy Spirit cleanses all wickedness from us: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8).

We thank God for helping us understand the serious danger of sin—those habits that violate His Word will plunge our lives into darkness and ultimately lead to death. Yet through faith in Christ, His blood cleanses our sins, and His holiness sanctifies our lives more and more! We pray that God will strengthen us, give us resolve to live according to His Word, avoid all sin, do good, and help others come to know and believe in God. May our lives always be holy and pure, a fragrant offering to God, and may we become a light that radiates His Gospel from this day until the day when Jesus returns! Amen!

*A skin and spotted hide through countless years—* *Who can change the leopard's black and white?* *One accustomed to sin finds it hard to right,* *Even with discipline, change appears!*

*His Word illuminates our way,* *Repentance and confession cleanse our shame,* *God is faithful, forgiving in His name,* *His precious blood makes us pure and white!*

*Only God—the true Divine,* *Has power to transform the human heart,* *Open your faith, friend, make a start,* *Let Him rule your life and make it shine,* *Cast all impurity far away,* *Live the faith from this day—joy fills the day!*

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