2 KINGS 1:2-3: 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?'”
Shortly after the outspoken atheist Robert G. Ingersoll was defeated in his race for governor of
Illinois, he was spouting off about his atheism on board a train from Chicago to Peoria. He turned to a
gentleman near him and demanded, “Tell me one great result that Christianity has ever
accomplished.” Not wishing to get into an argument with the boaster, the man hesitated to answer.
For a moment it was silent in the car. Then an elderly lady who sat right behind him touched his arm
with a trembling hand and said, “Sir, I do not know who you are, but I think I can tell you of one
glorious thing which Christianity has done.” “What is it, Madam?” asked Ingersoll. “It has kept Robert
G. Ingersoll from being governor of the State of Illinois,” she replied.
Those who choose to deny God always pay a great price. When King Ahaziah was injured and sent a
messenger to inquire of the god of Ekron concerning his recovery, God sent Elijah to respond.
“Because you have failed to trust the Lord,” Elijah proclaimed, “you will die.” And he did (v. 17).
Ahaziah’s unbelief cost him his life.
Unbelievers are not the only ones who stand to lose from their lack of faith. Christians sometimes
profess to believe in Christ, but their actions fail to demonstrate they truly trust Him. Such
inconsistency will cost them dearly in terms of peace and joy. It could even cause them to lose some
of their heavenly rewards.
Let your walk match your talk. If you trust the Lord for your salvation, trust Him for all the other areas
of your life as well. When you get God’s counsel, you’ve got the best counsel there is.
UNBELIEF IS NEVER CHEAP; IT COSTS MORE THAN IT PAYS.