"If I Were the Devil..."


by
Paul Harvey

If I were the Prince of Darkness,

I would want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I would have one-third of the real estate and four-fifths of the population , but I wouldn't be happy until I had the ripest apple on the tree. 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 youth I would whisper, "The Bible is a myth."
I would convince them that man made God instead of the other way around.
I would confide that what's bad is good and what's good is "square."
In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you.
And to the old I would teach to pray after me: "Our Father, who art in Washington..."
And then I'd get organized; I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that everything else would appear dull and uninteresting.
I'd threaten television with dirtier movies and vice versa.
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'd encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions: let those run wild. Before you know it, you'd have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every school house door. Within a decade I'd have prisons overflowing.
With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to do what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography.
I'd designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I'd get the preachers to say, "She's right." Thus, 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, girls, and church money.
If I were the Devil I would make the symbol 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 it to those who want it, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
What'll you bet that I couldn't get whole States to promote gambling as the way to get rich?
I would caution against extremes: in hard work, in patriotism, and in moral conduct.
I would convince the youth that marriage is old-fashioned, but swinging is more fun; that what you see on television is the way to be; and thus I could undress you in public and I could lure you into bed where there are diseases for which there is no cure.
Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.
In other words, if I were the Devil, I'd just keep doing what he's doing.


THE 23 rd PSALM:

This is an eye opener; probably we never thought nor looked at this
>Psalm in
>this way, even though we say it over and over again.
>23rd Psalm
>
>The Lord is my Shepherd
>That's Relationship!
>
>
>I shall not want
>That's Supply!
>
>
>He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
>That's Rest!
>
>
>He leadeth me beside the still waters
>That's Refreshment!
>
>
>He restoreth my soul
>That' s Healing!
>
>
>He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
>That's Guidance!
>
>
>For His name sake
>That's Purpose!
>
>
>Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death That's
>Testing!
>
>I will fear no evil
>That' s Protection!
>
>
>For Thou art with me
>That's Faithfulness!
>
>
>Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
>That's Discipline!
>
>
>Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies That's
>Hope!
>
>Thou annointest my head with oil
>That's Consecration!
>
>
>My cup runneth over
>That's Abundance!
>
>
>Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life That's
>
>Blessing!
>And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
>That's Security!
>
>
>Forever
>That's Eternity!
>
>
>Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.
>What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have
>in
>our lives!
>
>
>
>Subject: Center of the Bible
>
>This is awesome . . .thought you might find this interesting
>. .
>
>Center of the Bible
>
>What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms
>117)
>
>What is the longest chapter in the Bible? (Answer - Psalms
>119)
>
>Which chapter is in the center of the Bible (Answer - Psalms
>118)
>
>Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
>
>Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
>
>Add these numbers up and you get 1188
>
>What is the center verse in the Bible? (Answer - 118:8)
>
>Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect
>will for our lives? The next time someone says they would like to
>find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the
>center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!
>
>Psalms 118:8 (KJV) "It is better to trust in the LORD than
>to put confidence in man."
>
>Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the
>center of it)?