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Verse:“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” —Revelation 3:21, NIV
A prize is an award given to the winner of a competition or as a reward for an outstanding performance or contribution.
Among the most prestigious awards are Nobel Prizes.
Alfred Nobel (1833–1896) was a Swedish chemist, engineer, inventor, businessman, and philanthropist. He held 355 different patents but became best known as the inventor of dynamite. Criticized for developing the explosive, Nobel was concerned with how he would be remembered. Since he had never married and had no children, he decided to do something to benefit humanity.
“On November 27, 1895, at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, Nobel signed his last will and testament, setting aside the bulk of his... estate... to establish Nobel Prizes, to be awarded annually,” without distinction of nationality, for outstanding contributions to humanity. The first of those prizes was awarded in 1901.
The annual prize ceremonies for chemistry, economics, literature, physics, and physiology or medicine are held in Stockholm, Sweden, and the ceremony for the peace prize is held in Oslo, Norway. Each recipient, or laureate, receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a significant sum of money. The award ceremonies are followed by special banquets attended in Stockholm by the Swedish royal family and in Oslo by the king and queen of Norway. The list of recipients includes such names as Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Albert Schweitzer, Ernest Hemingway, Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela. The book of Revelation tells of the awards that will be given to those who overcome the forces of evil.
The awards are far more than just a gold medal, a diploma, and some money to spend. They include eternal life (Revelation 2:11), a record of the person’s name in the book of life (Revelation 3:5), the right to abide in God’s temple, the honor of carrying His name (verse 12), and the joy of sitting with Christ on His glorious throne (verse 21). None of the Nobel Prizes can be compared to the heavenly ones.
How are you planning your future? Are the awards of this world more attractive to you than the everlasting rewards? Remember that all human prizes will soon vanish, and only heavenly ones shall last!