When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I came across a copy of an essay in the newspaper that made me sit up and pay attention.

It was pretty much the reason I began writing in the first place.

You see, the words were so impactful, so truthful, that it made me stop and think — really think about the world, about life.

When I first read it, the essay was only about 20 years old.

But still, it was dead-on accurate and so well-put that I decided to cut the article out of the newspaper and I placed it among my poems, my keepsakes.

I still have it to this day, 40 years later. Although I couldn’t tell you off-hand exactly where it’s at.

Although it is worn and faded, because it was the last time I looked at it a few years ago, the words are still the same. Only now, they take on a far more accurate meaning than they did when originally written.

There was just something about this particular piece that got to me.

And for whatever reason, the words became the most truthful that I have ever heard.

This essay is absolutely accurate. This essay is exceptionally well written. This essay is still unforgettable to this day.

Although it has been 60 years since one man prophesied what no one else at the time was even thinking, he got it right.

No one back then believed these things would ever really happen. Not in the United States of America. Not to these United States.

Little did they know just how wrong they were and just how right he was.

Yes, 60 years ago, Paul Harvey’s words were pretty much deemed preposterous by the society which surrounded him.

Why? Because much of what he wrote was not the case at all.

People could not even fathom a world such as this, as most of what he had written did not apply to the world six decades ago. People thought him ridiculous. Outlandish even for that time in history.

But those of us today, can see it. Today, we wouldn’t even question it.

One might even think it was only written yesterday … rather than in 1965.

So, for those of you who may have forgotten about this one or for those of you who may not recall all of the words, here it is again.

Why? Because I believe it is imperative to never forget these words or why they were written. We need reminding of where evil truly lies and we need to remember to put God first. Not only in our hearts but in our lives.

“If I Were the Devil”

“If I were the devil, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d 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 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 at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves, until each, in 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 want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the 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 … what he’s doing.”

(Stenger is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)