The Terrifying Power Of Deception by John Avant

16 hours ago

4 min read

In 1979 socialist and Marxist groups, led by thousands of university students, achieved an historic victory. They overthrew the US-supported Shah of Iran and brought the government down. To do it, they joined with Muslims, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini, with the assurance that they would build a Socialist paradise together.

They were deceived.

Within days of the Islamic Revolution coming to power, the socialist celebration was over.

And the infidel genocide began.

All of the students, the socialists, and anyone not supportive of Sharia Law were immediately criminalized. Thousands were arrested and the executions began.

It is estimated that eventually 30,000 socialists were murdered, and their bodies dumped in mass graves.

Fast-forward to election time forty-seven years later here in the United States.

And we find large groups of socialists and university students, partnering with Muslims, seeking to bring down what they perceive as the evils of Capitalism.

How can this possibly be?

The level of deception and historical ignorance is breathtaking!

But it should not be shocking to those who believe the Scriptures:

“While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” II Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭

That day is this day.

I’m not writing this post offering political answers to the shockingly deceived lives so many are living today.

I will vote. I believe everyone has a responsibility to do so. I believe we have the opportunity to be salt in this world, to help prevent and reverse corruption around us. We have the chance to be light, to shine a beautiful glow of the Gospel into the deep darkness.

However, I have no confidence in politics or politicians as the primary vehicle for change.

My only ultimate hope is in the King and His kingdom.

There’s something else that frightens me almost as much as the deception that has led to the evil coalition of socialism and Islam today:

God’s own people can become so arrogant and certain about their own political views that they are themselves deceived!

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬ ‭

This is what Jesus said would happen. Not just to socialists and Muslims, but possibly even to the very people of God. To the people who love Jesus and should know better.

To someone just like me.

I don’t want to wake up one day and realize that I didn’t listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit as much as I listened to the loud voices of the political pundits that backed up my positions.

So what do we do to avoid being deceived ourselves in days like these?

I don’t claim to have perfect answers, but here are some things that I believe are particularly helpful because they’re drawn from the word of God, not the words of men.

— Devote most of my time and effort not to political causes, but to the one thing Jesus told us to be doing in these last days.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬ ‭

Are you talking about politics more than you talk about Jesus? That’s a problem. Are you only concerned about the political results within the nation where you live? Or are you actively involved in the mission of Jesus to the peoples who have not yet heard?

I will vote early because on election day I will arrive with a team in another country to help our missionaries there stay healthy and fruitful. That is where I want to be. For me, that’s a better place to be than sitting in front of a television listening to the election results drone on.

— Ask the Lord to protect my own mind and spirit.

“And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬ ‭

Jesus will never command us to do something without equipping us to do it.

If we ask Him to guard us from being led astray, He will do so.

Look around very carefully at the direction you are going. If there’s a big giant crowd moving with you, it is probably the wrong way. Jesus makes it pretty clear that His way is often lonely. If you are not hearing His call away from all the crowds, the conspiracies and the conflicts, you are probably not hearing Him well at all.

Be sure you are actually hearing from Jesus and not just what you want to hear.

— Don’t give into the temptation to minimize evil words and actions because they are said and done by politicians I often agree with.

This is a battle I see waged every day and often among those who deeply love Jesus. I hear some of the most evil words and actions excused and rationalized because we must win elections for the greater good.

And that doesn’t seem anything like the kingdom of God to me.

If something makes you uncomfortable in your spirit, it may be because that is conviction from the Spirit! It is God guarding you from deception.

Face that head on. Don’t turn away from it. Don’t worry that it might make you less committed to a political cause or party.

Do you want to avoid being deceived in these days?

Do you want more of the power of the Spirit of God in you to actually make a difference in these days?

Then the right politicians and policies are not what you need the most.

Not even close.

More of Jesus!

More of King Jesus!

Follow the one who traded earthly thrones for a cross and called us to take up our own.

That is the Gospel.

And that is the power we need in this day.