THE REST OF THE STORY...

Paul Harvey's "If I Were the Devil"

Paul Harvey was a brilliant broadcaster. His, "And now you know ... the rest of the story" was legendary. In 1965 he produced, "If I Were the Devil." Sixty years later, his predictions proved to be reality.

If I were the devil … I’d engulf the world in darkness, but wouldn’t be happy until I seized the ripest apple on the tree: the United States.

If I were the devil... I’d subvert churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”

To the young, I would whisper, ‘The Bible is a myth.”

I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide -what’s bad is good, and what’s good is bad. To the old, I would teach them to pray, “Our Father, which art in Washington…”

Then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors on how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the devil, I’d have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed from within. With promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline their emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, judges promoting pornography, and soon… I could evict God from the courthouse, from the schoolhouse, and from the halls of Congress.

And in His own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.

If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed all incentives of the ambitious.

And what do you bet -I could get states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against hard work and moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned and that what you see on the TV is the way to go.

If I were the devil, I’d just keep on doing what he is doing.
(Of course, we know none of this will ever happen).

(Reprinted from a FB post Rosemary Teeple-bellens page on 6/27/24)

Mr. Harvey, a wise man indeed, made these predictions almost 60 years ago. But God had already known the heart of man, how we’d rather grope in the darkness than to call on His name. Mercifully, His offer of salvation still stands, as do His loving warnings.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Prov.14:12, NKJV)

This year, as we celebrate Memorial Day, let’s remember to pray for God’s continued blessings on America - the home of the free because of the brave.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash