The Alan Parsons Project: "The Cask of Amontillado"

This recording engineer for such bands as Wings and Pink Floyd also recorded his own music. Built around the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, the songs express Alan Parson's interpretation of them in music. Check one track from him here.

I've heard that a Chinese proverb says, "Those who seek revenge must dig two graves." Though the character in this song was never found out, God knows every evil thing people do.

The Bible speaks of God's omniscience in verses like Psalms 33:13-15 (Bible in Basic English). "The Lord is looking down from heaven; he sees all the sons of men; From his house he keeps watch on all who are living on the earth;" He makes all their hearts; their works are clear to him."

Neither can foolish people hide their deeds in darkness. It's as futile as hiding behind a barbed wire fence. As Psalms 139:12 (BBE) points out, "Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you."

People can't even get away with cheating others with deceptive measures. As Proverbs 20:10 (Bible in Basic English) warns, "Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord." By the way, this doesn't mean fractions or multiples of measurements.

And as Ecclesiastes 9:2 (BBE) reminds us, all people will die sooner or later. "Because to all there is one event, to the upright man and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him who makes an offering and to him who makes no offering; as is the good so is the sinner; he who takes an oath is as he who has fear of it."

But when Christ returns, we who belong to him will be changed. If that hasn't happened by Saturday, I hope my post about the joy of forgiveness will be up for all to read.

Spiritual Disinfectant

Most folks know that sunlight is a good disinfectant because the ultraviolet rays kill bacteria and viruses. A hospital in New Zealand found this out during the Spanish flu of 1918. The nurses put some patients outside to enjoy fresh air and sunlight. Those who were placed outside recovered faster and fewer died.

Truth is a spiritual disinfectant. As Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:19 (Bible in Basic English). "And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil."

The Bible equates righteousness with light, as we read in Psalms 37:5 and 6 (BBE). "Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it. And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your cause like the shining of the sun."

And as light exposes the scene, so God's scrutiny illuminates all our secret sins. Psalms 90:8 (BBE) reminds us, "You have put our evil doings before you, our secret sins in the light of your face."

Likewise Psalms 139:12 (BBE) affirms, "Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you."

And as God is light, so is Christ. Isaiah 9:2 (BBE) heralded the coming of the Messiah. "The people who went in the dark have seen a great light, and for those who were living in the land of the deepest night, the light is shining."

And as we belong to our Lord, we must be his illuminators in this darkened world. Matthew 5:14 and 15 (BBE) says, "You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all. And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house."

A day will come when we'll be physically like our Lord as well. Matthew 17:1 and 2 (BBE) tells of how he revealed his glory to three of his disciples. "And after six days Jesus takes with him Peter, and James, and John, his brother, and makes them go up with him into a high mountain by themselves. And he was changed in form before them; and his face was shining like the sun, and his clothing became white as light."

What a wonderful day that will be when we are given new bodies fit for heaven's kingdom. No more will we feel the nagging pull of sin. That alone makes Christ's coming worth waiting for.

If that doesn't happen by Thursday, I hope to post about how the Bible is one long story.