Based on 2 Kings 1:1-17a (New King James Version)
“Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, ‘Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.’ But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ So Elijah departed. And when the messengers returned to him, he said to them, ‘Why have you come back?’ So they said to him, ‘A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ ’ ’Then he said to them, ‘What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?’ So they answered him, ‘A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.’ And he said, ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite.’ Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: ‘Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ’ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ’ So Elijah answered and said to them, ‘If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: ‘Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.’ And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So he arose and went down with him to the king. Then he said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken…”
According to the Pew Research Center in 2010, they found that there were more than 2.2 billion Christians in the world, people who professed to have some kind of faith in Christ. At that time, they estimated that precisely in this year (2023), there would be a figure that would exceed 2.6 billion people. This is the number of people who were estimated to not only have knowledge of who Christ is, but even more, who would profess to have faith in Him. So then, how many could we say know about the Gospel of God, that maybe don’t profess to have faith in Christ, but do know what it's all about? And we would have to say that there must be many more people than the 2.6 billion estimated to have such faith in the world. I personally have talked with some people who do not profess to have faith in Christ, who are from other religions or even atheists, and they know what sin is and that the only begotten Son of God came into this world to pay for the sins of all mankind, which is the heart of the Gospel. So, a large number of people in the world not only know that there is a God, but also that His Christ came to die for the whole world so that they could obtain forgiveness for their sins and have eternal life.
But, what is done with this knowledge? I am afraid to say that both most people who profess to have faith in Christ, as well as those who only have knowledge of the Gospel, do not give any importance to the matter. It is only knowledge and nothing more. But the matter goes no further in their lives. And from there, many of those who say that they believe do believe, but only for convenience or in their own way. In the end, the large number of people who know the truth does not mean much, because there is no real faith. And what will God say about it? God has much to say, and great responsibility is before His eyes for the truth. For starters, and even for people who do not profess to have faith in Christ, but know His truth, the Word says this: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21. So, there is already judgment on those who have such knowledge but reject it. The Word says this also: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.
So then, we would have to see, what about those who say they believe, but live their lives in the world's way, and do not do God's will? There is a worse problem there, even more judgment from God. This says the Word: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22. And the Word says this also: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26-27. So, we see fully that knowing the Truth and not following it as such has great consequences, if genuine repentance is never reached. God's judgment has already begun, but it will be even worse in eternity where there is no more opportunity for salvation, if a person never turns to the Lord properly. We must bear this in mind: “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17. King Ahaziah knew who God was, but he opted to look to the world for his answers. The majority today have their hearts set on the world, and their intentions are not good despite having the knowledge of the Gospel. And the Word says this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. That is why the divine counsel is this: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. So then, what will you do with the knowledge of the Gospel? Lord bless! John