The Deception of Unrighteousness (Wickedness)
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit (breath) of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
At this point, the focus here will not be end-times; although, it’s referenced here to keep things contextual. Verse 10 makes an interesting statement: and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved (NASB).
It underscores the fact that unrighteousness (wickedness) is deceptive. Of course, Scripture bears out that sin is also deceptive. Naturally, these two are joined at the hip. How do they deceive people? Temptation, which incorporates the things of the world.
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The serpent used a three-pronged approach to tempt Eve, which is outlined by this passage of Scripture. They are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. As we take a quick look at the event, keep in mind the devil uses these same three methods to tempt people today.
Genesis 3:4-6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), and that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes), and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (read all of chapter three for full context).
The things of the world are easy to see in so many facets of life. It affects how people define success, and the reason they chase it. Let’s pick on rock stars to illustrate the point. Why do some gravitate to that lifestyle, or at least fantasize about it? Of course, fame and fortune. Maybe it’s the ability to live pretty much the way the flesh dictates. How many make it to rock star status, only to find it to be unsatisfying in the end?
Why Some People are Deceived
If you lived on earth for any length of time, you probably experienced being deceived. The Bible gives us main reason people are deceived by unrighteousness, and ultimately believe the lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
They did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10). They reject the truth, which means they reject Him.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (read verses 17-32).
Those who reject and suppress the truth, are far easier to deceive than those who seek the Truth! They deceive others, while being deceived. The more they deceive, the more they become deceived. Truth is the antidote to deception.
