On January 17, 1950, 11 men stole more than $2 million from the Brink’s Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts.  It would have been the perfect crime if the thieves had not been caught just days before the statute of limitations expired.  It was the largest robbery in U. S. history up until that time, with 14 canvas bags weighing more than 1,000 pounds was taken.  The thieves left no clues except the rope used to tie up employees, and they were gone in about 30 minutes.  They dressed in navy blue coats and chauffeur’s caps similar to Brink’s employees and used copied keys to enter the depot. 

        “Words from Above” tell us in the Bible that when God created the first man and woman, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, a perfect paradise.

God visited them personally every day in the cool of the day, when walked and talked with them.  He gave them the very simple responsibility of taking care of the garden, and prohibited them from touching or eating from one single tree in the middle of the garden.

        All went well until one day, an impostor appeared in the form of a serpent to deceive Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, thereby robbing them of the special relationship they had with their Maker.  This impostor was Satan, a former angel created by God who was kicked out of heaven for his rebellion against God.  He had sought to take God’s place on His throne, and now he was taking revenge for his eviction from heaven by attacking and deceiving God’s human creations. 

        Satan really thought he had committed the perfect crime of forever destroying the souls of humanity, but God had other plans for him and he did not get away with it.  God informed him that one day a descendant of Adam and Eve would also appear on the earth to reclaim the souls of those he destroyed.  That descendant would be none other than God’s very own Son, whose name was Jesus, who would die on the Cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all the people of the world.  His death would purchase back the souls of humanity by the blood He would shed on the Cross.

        Like in the case of the bank robbery, for which there was a statute of limitations for prosecuting the thieves, there is also a statute of limitations for the souls of humanity to be reclaimed by God through His Son Jesus.  Our souls can be reclaimed or redeemed any time up until the time of our death.  So do not wait until your time expires!

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.