In 1965, a broadcaster named Paul Harvey, debuted an infamous monologue entitled "If I Were the Devil." Here are his words:
“If I were the prince of darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness. I’d have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — thee. So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.
“I’d subvert the churches first, and I would 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 the children that man created God instead of the other way around. I’d 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 ...’
“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 peddle 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 at 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 intellect but neglect to discipline emotions. I’d tell teachers to let those students run wild. And before you knew it, you’d have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
With a decade, I’d have prisons overflowing and judges promoting pornography. Soon, I would evict God from the courthouse and the schoolhouse and then from the houses of Congress.
In his own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I’d 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 wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. What’ll you bet I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?
“I’d convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun and that what you see on television is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases for which there are no cures.
“In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.”
This was written over 50 years ago but seems like it could've been yesterday. Our entire world seems to have shifted in a downward spiral at warp speed. In fact, the last two years feel like a horror movie that is being played on a repeated loop. There are a lot of questions with not as many answers. When does the nightmare of Covid, Democrat v. Republican, black v. white, persecution, civil unrest and natural disasters end? What are we to do when we feel our freedoms are being stripped away? When our leaders create division that's ripping our country apart?
For those who are followers of Christ, our citizenship is in Heaven and as such, we are to live our lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27) We know to obey God's commandments. To love God and our neighbors as ourselves. (Matt.22:37-39) To forgive as the Lord forgives us. (Colossians 3:13) To renew our minds and not being conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2)
But, let's go a little further. It's no surprise to God that we are living in this exact moment in time. Not only has He allowed us to be a part of this unique time in history but could it be that He has called us for such a time as this? I think of the story of Esther in the Bible. A young, Jewish orphan that went on to not only become queen but was used by God to save the entire Jewish population from annihilation. God used an ordinary woman to execute an extraordinary act and it all happened because she was bold and courageous even in the face of death.
Okay, I'm guessing none of us are queens, but, we each have our own unique spheres of influence. What if each one us shared our faith and pointed others to the hope we have? What if we were fearless enough to stand against what the world calls normal? And what if we taught our children to do the same? Can you imagine the sense of defeat Satan would have every time we do that? If I were the devil, I would be threatened by such an army of God-loving, God-fearing people.
