What is Iran’s not-so-secret weapon? Deception.

It seems we talk a lot about deception these days, and well we should. The deceiver wants to throw the world into confusion and deception is a perfect tool in which to accomplish that purpose. We could go a million different directions in discussion of deception, but we’re going to narrow our focus. Notice what the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians while describing the great apostasy that will mark the last days:

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

~2Thessalonians 2:9-12

Here is your assignment: count the number of evils mentioned just in those verses, then pay special attention to how those evils come about. Can you sum it up by the word deception?

If we listed examples of deception, we would be here all day! So let’s focus on one: Iran and their ability to deceive the world. First, they lied their way through the JCPOA nuclear deal during the Obama administration. They enriched uranium and developed weaponry, yet no agency or country were willing to call them out. They were allowed to deceive the world.

Today, they control terror proxy groups all over the Middle East…and even in Europe and America. Yet, we’re told Iran has nothing to do with terror that has run rampant across the globe. (“That’s conspiracy!” they say.) Iran obviously funds, trains and provides weaponry and supplies to known terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis and many others.

Surely Iran and the terrorist organizations are one big family singing kumbaya, right? NO! They are happy to take what they can get from Iran, deceiving them, perhaps, into thinking they are “all in” with Iran. But the reality is that Sunni groups (such as ISIS and Hamas) and Shi’ites (such as Hezbollah and the Houthis) would destroy each other if not for one common enemy: Israel. Iran, by the way, is Shia.

They deceive one another, pretending to play nicely in the sandbox when it serves their purpose, but stabbing one another in the back when they get the chance! For example, Hamas was part of a grander Iranian scheme when they attacked Israel. It was meant to be a coordinated attack involving Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Houthis and others, at the direction of IRGC commanders. Yet, wanting the glory to themselves (and thinking others would join the attacks), Hamas jumped the gun.

Deception.

Finally, despite all the backing of Iran to those terrorist organizations, Iran actually views those fighters as nothing more than disposable instruments to do their dirty work and keep Israel and the western allies from focusing on and destroying Iran. On the one hand, Iran appears to be the generous “big brother” of terrorist groups. On the other hand, those terrorist groups are nothing but disposable pawns for the ayatollahs in Iran.

Deception…and deception in return! Is it any wonder the Middle East is a boiling cauldron?

Now, should we talk about the deception America and the west are under, thanks to Iran? No, let’s not. It’s obvious. We would get hung up on the nuclear deal, then pretend that American bases in the Middle East are not really getting attacked! (They are…and Iran is behind it. Please act surprised!)

So friends, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! Deception may take America down the tubes, but those who ground themselves in God’s Word decern truth from deception, and those who put their faith firmly in the Lord will rest in the shadow of His wings! Get in there! Make it a habit, and become a warrior on the side of truth!