Before I entered print journalism, I spent several years — about 20 — in radio news.

I was blessed to work for four ABC-affiliated stations that carried Paul Harvey’s news and commentary. Though he has been gone for 16 years, I still miss him.

In my younger years, I recall he had the ability to bridge the generation gap that divided the nation during the Vietnam War era and afterward. Students would listen to his midday broadcast during their lunch time, just as business owners, homemakers and retirees and even presidents would tune in at the same time to catch up on the goings-on in the world. Paul Harvey was just the kind of affable person you welcomed into your home or car.

Paul Harvey had a way of communicating down-to-Earth messages that others in the news media lacked. When he passed away in 2009, he left a void that has yet to be filled.

There was a particularly special broadcast that Paul Harvey delivered 60 years ago this week. Yes — 60 years ago came an eerily prophetic warning that is well worth hearing again and again.

The broadcast was a special commentary titled “If I Were the Devil.” You can listen to it by clicking on the link below.

“If I were the Prince of darkness,” he began, “I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate and 4/5 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,” Harvey told listeners. “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.’”

Then followed a series of instructions on how to destroy a country. Indeed, by abandoning basic and time-honored spiritual principles, America could self-destruct. Who needs foreign enemies when we can commit national suicide?

“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 that what is bad is good, and what’s good is square. And the old I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our father, which are in Washington,’” the 60-year-old message continued.

Without printing the entire essay here, fast-forward to what was predicted to happen.

“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,” Harvey said.

“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.”

“I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church money,” the prophecy went on.

“And what’ll you bet, I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich,” Harvey also noted.

“I would caution against extremes, in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned. That swinging is more fun,” was an additional idea for social demise.

Then came to the clincher:

“In other words, if I were the Devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing,” Harvey finished.

How prophetic were Paul Harvey’s words!

For the full benefit and effect, you should hear the whole short essay, rather than merely read it.

As Paul said, “Good day!”

The link is https://youtu.be/jnPE8u5ONls?si=TMarkCjvOnxrweYw