Once a cheater, always a cheater.
-Common Saying
Do I believe this common saying? Yes and no… but mostly yes.
Cheating is a character deep problem. The actual cheating is symptomatic of a soul rot that needs drastic attention by the cheater in order to deal with it before it leaves to spiritual terminality.
Most cheaters will not give their souls that needed attention.
Cheating is an escape. They are constitutionally inclined to live in a fantasy world as opposed to dealing with difficult stuff. This does not change magically once caught.
Now, all things are possible with God.
Yet I would not recommend staying with someone who has cheated as past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior–that’s what they say in the social sciences. I would consider the cheater a bad bet.
Some cheaters eventually do right their ships so to speak.
They mature and stop blaming others–like you–for their choices and behaviors. Instead, they look in the mirror, get help, and change.
So, I do believe a cheater can change. It really depends upon whether or not this cheater is taking FULL accountability for their lies, deceptions, and cheating. If not, they will repeat the cheating. They have chosen fantasy over truth.
Remember: Truth sets us free, not fantasy lies.
