The world says: “A leopard can’t change its spots.” 
The bible says: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The world will tell us that a leopard can’t change its spots. This is in reference to people not being able to change.
There are other sayings that go along the same line. Here’s one off the top of my head now for example: Once a cheater, always a cheater, which is referring to people who cheat on their partner/spouse.
They assume that, just because someone has cheated once or possibly more, that they will always be the same. And, in the world, that might be true. But the bible tells us that people can and do change. I am living proof of this. I’m not perfect by any means, but God is working on me, so I’m a work in progress. 😉
I will use myself as an example, because it’s the only way I know to get my message across. I can’t type up someone else’s testimony because, well there’s no-one else here right now, and also I know it to be true. I can only speak the truth if I’ve lived it.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
This verse just about says it all doesn’t it?
Once you are in Christ, or a born again Christian, you are a new person. The old you has gone and the new one takes its place. You become a new person.
You start to lose interest in the things that used to excite you, that you used to enjoy.
I can testify to this.
I come from a line of drinkers so it’s only natural that I ended up like that. I think people tend to live what they see as children. Of course this isn’t always the case, but I think it most cases it probably is. I know of some people that had pretty bad parenting as children so they made a vow with themselves to never be like that, and they weren’t.
Anyway, back to my story. I used to drink, a lot. It wasn’t unheard of for me to drink nearly a whole bottle of bourbon in one night, to myself and by myself. The same with beer. I could drink a dozen (mid-strength) beers in one sitting on my own (In my late 20’s I switched to mids because I could drink more and not get as much of a hangover as will full strength beers). Now, I’m not a very tall person so for someone of my size to drink that much is a big deal.
It was so bad that In my early 20’s my dr was so concerned about my drinking that she got me to have a liver function test because she thought my liver would be shot. Thankfully it was ok, but that still didn’t deter me. I just kept drinking as if my life depended on it.
If I was down or angry, I’d turn to my friend alcohol. If I was happy or excited about something, I drank. If it was a birthday or something else to celebrate, I’d drink.
Nothing was ever done that didn’t include alcohol. I got myself in some really dangerous situations when I drank, and I look back now and I honestly think that the Lord had his hand on me because I probably should have died from alcohol poisoning several times over. There were times that I drank so much that most of the next day was spent vomiting. It was really not a pleasant thing.
I don’t mean to go on and on, but I’m trying to set the scene for you, because my deliverance from the demon drink was nothing short of miraculous.
It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen. I had some Christian counselling, and within weeks the desire to drink started to wane. It didn’t take me long to almost completely lose the desire to drink at all. It’s been just over 3 years since I have stopped drinking, praise the Lord! I won’t say it has been easy for all of those years because it hasn’t. The devil has tried to tempt me back into drinking so many times, but with Jesus by my side, I have been able to resist all those times that I’ve been tempted.
I also used to rely heavily on anti-depressants and took them for about 10 years. It was around the same time that I weaned myself off them and haven’t had one since. Again, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows as I’ve had many obstacles thrown my way, and I do get down, but I will never go back to that poison.
I am walking proof that people can, and do, change for the better, and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ. Yes, psychologists or therapists might work for a while, but the true change in you will only come through Jesus. He will make you a new creation, a new person and the old things will pass away.
If you are not a Christian (or even if you are) and have a problem with alcohol, drugs, sexual addiction or any kind of addiction, please, call out to Jesus now to help you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
eternityisforever 