"While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator was hit by an automobile and tragically died. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance. 'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.' 'No problem, just let me in,' says the Senator. 'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.' 'Really?, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the Senator. 'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.' And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. Now it's time to visit heaven...So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. 'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.' The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.' So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders. 'I don't understand,' stammers the Senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?' The devil smiles at him and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning. Today, you voted.'"
Don't think of Satan as a cartoon character carrying a red pitchfork. He is very clever and powerful. Satan is alive and we see him all around. We see him on our streets, in our schools, cities, television, social media, etc. Evil is a present reality! Satan does not come up and introduce himself. No, he is sneaky. He is not just in the obvious things. He is in our fear, anger, guilt. He comes quietly to kill and destroy. John 10: 10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." Satan tells us to do what we want. Take what we want and pay for it later. 2 Corinthians 11: 14, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." He targets our minds. His weapon is lies. His purpose is to keep us from God. Our defense is the Word of God!
Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus wants what is best for us and that is Him! He will fill us with the peace and joy that only He can give, but, we have to do our part. We have to make Him the priority in our life! We have to know the Truth! "The devil has no power over our lives except in the areas of our ignorance."