It is amazing as well as interesting that there are such an unlimited number of things found in nature and everyday life that contain spiritual lessons. Of course, Christ used these freely as He gave us parables that spoke of the mustard seed, vineyards, farming objects and activities, fishing, and other such things. Paul often spoke of sports such as boxing, the Olympics, and racing. The Bible had to limit these just as it had to limit things recorded about the life and ministry of Christ. John tells us, “Many other things Jesus did, the which if they should be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.” John 21:25 But, sometimes we run across lessons in nature that beg to be considered as we try to emphasize Biblical teaching. One such example is the Apple of Sodom. You never heard of it? Neither had I until recently. Let me tell you about it.
Near the city of Jericho there grows a spiny plant that is not pretty as a plant. But after it has bloomed it bears a beautiful fruit. The fruit is in the tomato family. It is yellow with an attractive texture. It would remind you of the fruit that tempted Adam and Eve. The Bible says it “was a delight to the eyes and appeared to be good for food.” But the appearance of these beautiful fruits is deceptive and those who have given in to the impulse to taste them tell us they have a bitter, nauseating taste like ashes. No one who knew the result would succumb to the temptation to eat of the Apples of Sodom.
If we knew the true result of sin, we would never commit it. Even when we try to visualize everlasting fire, fire that is not quenched, the furnace of fire, the lake of fire and brimstone (Mark 9:43, 44; Matt. 25.41; Rev. 21:8), we fail to come away really convinced of the horror of being everlastingly lost. But sin is so deceptively attractive we fall for it. There could never be anything so full of fun and joy that it could compensate for eternity in a place that the Bible goes to great lengths to portray to us as our home if we fail to keep God’s will. “I am glad I did it” will never be heard in hell.
The most successful ploy of the devil is deceit. He is called, “the deceiver of the whole world” in Rev. 12:9. If we could see the end result of sinful actions we would never be guilty of breaking the laws of God. Which laws? Any of them. We don’t get to pick and choose. Satan covers this fact up also.
If we were to taste the Apple of Sodom, there would be the possibility of rinsing the foul taste from our mouth. Christ came to make it possible for us to receive the remission of our sins. The people on Pentecost did when they obeyed the command to repent and be baptized. Acts 2:37-42.
