A while ago, someone jokingly asked where zebras got their spots. A similar question was whether a zebra can change it spots. Aren’t those ridiculous questions for we all know that zebras are striped and not spotted.
However, listening to some preachers on various media platforms, I often find that there are those who does their utmost to claim or proclaim that zebras have spots or that zebras can indeed change their spots.
A quick glance through the Bible revealed that God is aware of false preachers and condemns the practice of false teaching. A prime example can be found in Deuteronomy 18:20 which reads, “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” God also said that His hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divination’s. (See Ezekiel 13:9) We also find that the Lord warns us not to listen to what the prophets are prophesying to us for they will fill us with false hope. They speak visions from their own minds, and not from the mouth of the Lord.(Jeremiah 23:16)
Now before I continue, let me reiterate that though the title “prophet” is used in the old testament, the same applies to all or other ministers as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. We must also take cognizance that God does not speak in the verses above against all ministers but to those who are abusing the call by promoting anything else but the true Gospel and anybody else than Christ crucified.
We also find that Peter warned the church against false preachers or those who would like to make them believe that a zebra has spots. In 2 Peter 2:1-3 we read, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
Let us therefor be cautious and in obedience to God, preach a pure Gospel, stripped of heresies, own interpretations and even un-biblical promises. Let us be determined, like Paul, to preach Christ crucified. (See 1 Corinthians 1:23) Let us not rely on our wisdom, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:5) Let it never be said that we tried to persuade the church that a zebra can change its spots.
