I would like to share a bit about this book The One Year Did You Know by Nancy S. Hill.

March 22, p. 81

When did paying a library fine make history? John 3: 14 – 17

In 1823, a man borrowed a book from the medical library at the university of Cincinnati. Nothing was unusual about that until later. Much later. One hundred and forty years later, to be exact, when the borrower’s great – grandson, Richard Dodd, discovered the book, walked into the library, and returned it for his great-grandfather, who had passsed away. The fine, which was more than two thousand dollars, was forgiven, so it did not have to be paid. But as far as anyone knows, it still stands as the fine for the longest – overdue book in America.

So what?

Richard did an unusual thing by caring enough to try to pay what his relative owed. There are quite a few people who probably try to avoid paying their own debts, much less someone else’s. We might think that if we heard of someone who was willing to pay the debts of everyone on earth, that would be impossible to believe. It would be too much generosity for us to understand. But that’s exactly what Jesus did when he died on the cross for us. He said:

I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he have his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. John 3: 14. – 17 , NLT

The sins of the world were too great – we could never repay God for them. But Jesus released us from our debt and made it possible for us to go to heaven. The Bible tells all about God’s love for us and is one book that is never be overdue.