“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

It has been testified somewhere, with rhetorical retort, can a leopard change his spots? The obvious implied answer is no, the leopard cannot change his spots. Spots can be colored, concealed, and even labeled differently, but they are still there.

The analogy demonstrates that change doesn’t come easy, and often not by the devices of the individual. One then wonders, how does change occur? Change happens, and it needs to happen, but how does one make it happen? When we consider change, biblically speaking, it comes from outside.

One of the greatest aspects of the gospel is that change has come, it will come, and it comes from outside ourselves. There is beautiful and substantive change in Christ. But, again, how does it come? And what does it look like?

For those in Christ consider 2 Corinthians 3:18. A great deal can be learned from this passage regarding how change works.

First, change comes through beholding the glory of God; the glory of God in the whole of creation; the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; and the glory of God in the gospel of Christ. 

Second, transformative change is going to be gradated and progressive. In other words, it doesn't happen with a flash of light and puff of smoke. Change occurs from one degree to another. Some change is fast, and some is slow, and for those in Christ, change comes as we walk with the Lord. 

Finally, change comes from outside a person. I know it seems odd, but change comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. God acts upon us to change us from one degree of glory to another as we behold the glory of the Lord. Just like the leopard cannot change its spots, we cannot change our spots, but in Christ we can be transformed, renewed, resorted. 

Rejoice that Christ has removed the veil and opened the eyes of your heart. Thank God for the change the comes through the Spirit of the Lord.