Chapel

Iowa Speedway

July 27, 2018

“If I Were The devil”

(By Paul Harvey – April 3, 1965)

Every now and then God anoints a person with a prophesy that is so direct and soul-rattling that often passes for the “phooey syndrome” often used to keep people from thoughtful and personal consideration resulting in asking God about its truth.

I personally remember this one as a young guy fresh out of High School, in college and certainly oblivious to the things of the Lord.  Yeah, it fell on my deaf ears in those days, eager instead to go racing and party with no thought to knowing the Creator of everything, even though I was brought up in church on Sunday.

Hover, I did like Paul Harvey and looked forward to his radio programs every week.  Little did I know that years later I would be stunned on how he nailed the history of our nation and in today’s political and social setting be so dead on the target.

Take a listen or read his words, whichever you choose:

This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on April 3, 1965:

*If you want to hear the original broadcast of this highly prophetic word to America that rings true today then here is the internet address:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaGVCO6CByQ

 

Following is the text if you want to read it:

 

“If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its’ real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So, I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the 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 that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. 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 soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And 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 emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses 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 make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil I’d take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet? I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as thee way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day.”

There is no better day than today to wake up and realize that we are not meant to glorify in ourselves but made to glorify YHVH, (pronounced Yah-way) the God of the Universe, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who sent his only son Yeshua (Jesus) who is our ONLY way to the Father, to Heaven, to living after we die.  He designed each one of us for a specific purpose in our life and accomplish a specialized, designed accomplishment to glorify Him and at the same time bless our brothers and sisters around us …IF We Choose too. 

We do not deserve His love, but He gives it freely, Do you know Him? 

Romans 5:8 says ‘But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners and backs turned to Him.”

So, …How simple is it to be assured of being “saved?”  Acts 16:31 makes it clear when the Apostle Paul and Silas replied to their jail guard “Simply Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.

– Bob