W
hen Alfred was born in Stockholm in 1833, nobody looking in his bassinet could have imagined that he was going to impact history. He did, though, in a dramatic way.
Moving to Russian when Alfred was four, his dad ran a factory in St. Petersburg that created mines and other explosives for the military. Once Alfred had grown and received training as a chemist in Russia, Paris, and the United States, he wanted to be a part of what his dad was doing.
Alfred “returned to Sweden and set up a laboratory to experiment with explosives. In 1863, he invented a way to control the detonation of nitroglycerin, a highly volatile liquid that had been recently discovered but was previously regarded as too dangerous for use. Two years later, Alfred invented the blasting cap, an improved detonator that inaugurated the modern use of high explosives. Previously, the most dependable explosive was black powder, a form of gunpowder.
“Nitroglycerin remained dangerous, however, and in 1864 Alfred’s nitroglycerin factory blew up, killing his younger brother and several other people. Searching for a safer explosive, Alfred discovered in 1867 that the combination of nitroglycerin and a porous substance called kieselguhr produced a highly explosive mixture that was much safer to handle and use. Alfred christened his invention “dynamite,” for the Greek word dynamis, meaning “power.” Securing patents on dynamite, Alfred acquired a fortune as humanity put his invention to use in construction and warfare.
“In 1875, Alfred created a more powerful form of dynamite, blasting gelatin, and in 1887 introduced ballistite, a smokeless nitroglycerin powder. Around that time, one of Alfred’s brothers died in France, and French newspapers printed obituaries in which they mistook him for Alfred. One headline read, “The merchant of death is dead.””1
On this day in 1896, Alfred died. Through his inventions, he had amassed great wealth. His will stipulated that his estate be sold and that the proceeds be used to create awards, honoring those in a variety of fields who have done something significant to advance peace and unity among the nations. Evidently, Alfred was having some deep regrets and needed to atone for all he had done to contribute to wars and the destruction of human life.
If you haven’t figured it out, Alfred’s last name is Nobel, and the prize is the Nobel Peace Prize. The first of the awards was given exactly five years after his death.
Besides recognition, recipients of the award get a medal and split nearly $1.4 million in prize money. As of 2024, the prize has been awarded to 111 individuals and 28 organizations. “While some make fantasy purchases (British biochemist Richard Roberts reportedly built himself a croquet lawn with his 1993 physiology or medicine prize money), many say they spent their Nobel awards on mundane needs like mortgages and college funds for their children.”2
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, a man came to Jesus, presumably feeling much like Alfred Nobel. He wanted to know what he needed to do to atone for his life. Mark 10:17-25 tells the story.
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (18) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. (19) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. (20) And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. (21) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (22) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (23) And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! (24) And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Many have stumbled over the point of this story. Was Jesus suggesting that if this man would sell everything and give it to the poor that he would be saved? Absolutely not. Jesus was trying to get this man to see that he wasn’t nearly as perfect and selfless as he thought. He loved his riches. He had worked hard for what he had, and the treasure of his heart was all his worldly goods.
The disciples expressed their astonishment at what Jesus was teaching. “And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? (27) And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:26-27)
Precisely!!! The rich man said, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “It’s
not in your power to do anything. Salvation belongs to the Lord. It is His gift to give. Atonement can be made only through the blood of Jesus, not by following a bunch of rules and laws, regardless of how Biblical they might be.”
Man’s conscience might be assuaged this side of eternity but there is Almighty God to whom we meet after the grave. Those entering Heaven are those who have accepted the atonement of their sins in the blood of Jesus while they were alive and called upon the name of the Lord to be saved.
Praise the Lord for Romans 5:10-11! “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-nobel-prizes-awarded
2https://www.livescience.com/23838-how-nobel-prize-money-is-spent.html
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
