A tongue-in-cheek political comment

If you say something tongue-in-cheek, you intend it to be understood as a joke, although you might appear to be serious. Will Rogers was speaking tongue-in-cheek when he stated, “I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”
In that same tongue-in-cheek spirit, I share the following to help us get through the dreaded political commercials heading our way.
A politician is hit by a truck and dies. He arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter who states, "We have a problem. We seldom see politicians around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you. We will have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
And with that, St. Peter escorts the politician to the elevator and he goes down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself standing in the midst of his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone runs to greet him and they reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play golf and dine on lobster. Also present is the Devil, who is very friendly. They’re having such a good time that before he realizes it, it’s time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator door reopens at Heaven. 24 hours pass with the politician 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, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."
He reflects for a minute, then answers: "I would never have thought it, and Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell."
So he goes back down. The doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste. All his friends are dressed in rags, wading through garbage. The Devil comes over.
"I don't understand," stammers the politician. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and we ate lobster and danced and had a great time. Now it’s a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!"
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, and dry cleaners depressed?
Even more, baseball players will be debased, organ donors will be delivered, and musical composers will eventually decompose.
On a more positive note, though, perhaps we can pray politicians will be devoted.
Actually, politicians being devoted isn’t just a tongue-in-cheek thought. Psalm 2 uses kingdom language, calling us to pray for nations and rulers and to be involved in politics.
While it’s true that mixing politics and religion has brought some nasty results: crusades, inquisitions, witch hunts, genocide, and more, this prayer book called Psalms tells us that prayer and politics have to mix. If we don’t mix faith and politics, we live our life in separate compartments, eventually becoming counterfeits. A life of integrity requires that we combine politics and faith without letting one corrupt the other. The only safe way to do this is through prayer.