Black History Month: Love The Skin You're In

Transformed Life Church of God

118 Second Avenue Groveland FL 34736

Sunday February 22, 2026, 11am

Theme: Love the skin you’re in:

Love yourself, be who God made you to be!

Text: Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.

When my wife and I travel we don’t usually use Uber or Lyft, but a few weeks ago in Houston Texas we were without options, so we requested an Uber. Our Uber driver was friendly and asked about where we were from and began to describe and explain the city limits of Houston as he drove us to the airport. I have heard that Uber drivers can be a bit too chatty for our liking — but model Nyakim Gatwech, known as “Queen of the Dark” by fans, had an altercation with an Uber driver that made us shudder.

The Black Panther Starlet had a story that went viral after posting her story about her encounter with a racist Uber driver on Instagram. He asked the Sudanese born, thirty-three year old, top model if she would bleach her skin for $10,000 during the uncomfortable ride. He said, 'Don't take this offensive but if you were given ten thousand dollars would you bleach your skin for that amount?’ I couldn't even respond I started laughing so hard." "Then he said, 'So that’s a no.'” After using a few choice words, she said, “That's NO! why on earth would I ever bleach this beautiful melanin God [blessed] me with," she added. "[Then] he said, so you look at it as a blessing?"

Our text found in Jeremiah 13:23, asks the question, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin?”

The Greeks used the word Aithiops (??????) meaning “burnt-faced” — referring broadly to dark-skinned peoples south of Egypt. Part of the eastern region we now describe as Sub-Saharan Africa. This included regions of: Nubia, Kush, parts of modern Sudan and possibly the Horn of Africa. In several ancient Greek and Roman sources, Ethiopians (especially Ethiopian women) were described as exceptionally beautiful or “the most handsome” people. Herodotus, known as the father of History , — speaking about Ethiopians, argued that “They are said to be the tallest and handsomest of all men.” Philostratus in his book— Life of Apollonius of Tyana 6.1 (3rd century CE) declared that “the Ethiopians are the tallest and the most beautiful of mankind.” Artistic evidence demonstrate the admiration that the Ancients had for the Ethiopians.

The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the human body and is considered a thing of beauty.

People in some parts of the ancient world did attempt to lighten or “bleach” their skin. This was practiced in several ancient civilizations for social, aesthetic, and class-based reasons. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese and Japanese women used cosmetics extensively to lighten their skin sometimes to indicate indoor life and elite status. They used chalk powder, white lead, Malachite, rice powder, Mercury, Vinegar and Arsenic. Most of these substances were very toxic and caused Skin damage, Hair loss, Neurological issues and sometimes death. But skin lightening was not about racial status but about social ranking. Light skin indicated that a person lived indoors and were well-to-do. Modern racial hierarchies developed much later (16th–19th centuries).

Our text for today, Jeremiah 13:23, asks “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil,” is speaking favorably and not disparagingly about the ebony skinned Ethiopian. The Ethiopian’s chocolate brown skin as well as the cream skin of the Greek and all the skin tones in between are all distinctions designed by God, to reflect His glorious work and radiant beauty. His image is imprinted on us all. Genesis 1:27 (KJV) “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” This verse declares our identity as bearer of the Image of God. Theologians call it the “Imago Dei.” the “Image of God.”

The smooth, flawless, melanin generated mahogany sun-kissed skin of the Ethiopian and the glowing, moon-kissed ivory countenance of the Greek are deafening commands from the Almighty to “love who you are.” “Love how God made you.” Look at yourself in the mirror and say every single day until you get it deep into your spirit, “God made me exactly like this and He does not make mistakes. I love who I am. And I want to keep on being me. I don’t want to be anybody else.”

In Psalm 139:14 (KJV) in a direct declaration of gratitude David says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”