Manje Isikhathi Senkonzo Yentshiseko
“Okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.”—MARKU 13:13.
1, 2. (a) Yiziphi izimo ezenza kube sobala ukuthi siphila ekupheleni kwalesimiso sezinto? (b) Yikuphi ukusabela okubili ongaba nakho?
ABANYE abantu basakungabaza ukuthi siphila ekupheleni kwalesisimiso samanje, nakuba kunzima ukucabanga ukuthi kungani bengangabaza leloqiniso. Ukuziphatha kuyawohloka. Izimo zezomnotho ziya ziba zimbi. Ubudlova buyanda. Ukuchichima kwenani labantu kuyaqhubeka, ukungcola kuyakhula, ukungcola okubangelwa amabhomu kuyanda, izikhali zeathomu zanda ngokuphindiwe futhi abangakholwa bayamangala ukuthi kazi izidalwa eziphilayo ziyosinda yini emhlabeni.
2 Nokho, ukuphela kwalesimiso esidala akukafiki. Amanye amaKristu azinikezele kungenzeka asekhathele ukwenza inkonzo yoMbuso. Uma noma ubani, ngezenzo zakhe enganikezelanga ukuphila kwakhe kuNkulunkulu, kodwa osukwini, kungenzeka ukuthi usehlungiwe. Kodwa labo abanikezela ukuphila kwabo kuJehova uNkulunkulu, ukuba benze intando yakhe njalo futhi balandele izindlela zakhe, baqine ngokungaphezulu futhi inani labo liyaqhubeka landa.
3. (a) Kungani abathandi bokulunga belangazelela ukubona lesimiso sezinto siphela? (b) Singakapheli, kumelwe sibe senzani?
3 Abantu abathanda ukulunga balangazelela ukubona lesimiso esidala siphela, ngoba isikhundla saso siyothathwa yiPharadesi lasemhlabeni, uHlelo Olusha lokulunga oluthenjiswa yiBhayibheli. (Isaya 9:6, 7; Mathewu 6:9, 10; 2 Petru 3:13; IsAmbulo 21:1-4) Kuyiqiniso, izinceku zikaJehova zifuna lolushintsho lufike ngokushesha ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ayoluletha ngaso. Kodwa, njengoba bezinikezele ngokweqiniso kuNkulunkulu, ngokubekezela balinda isikhathi sakhe njengoba beqhubekela phambili ngentshiseko emsebenzini ovusa amadlingozi wokushumayela ngoMbuso aye wabanikeza wona ukuba bawenze.—Mathewu 24:14.
Izibonelo Eziphefumlelwe
4. Yisiphi isibonelo esihle esabekwa amadoda nabesifazane bokholo ezikhathini zakudala?
4 Asikho isizathu nganoma ubani sokuhlehlela emuva, adebesele, noma axegise izandla. UJehova uNkulunkulu noKristu Jesu bayizisebenzi. (Johane 5:17) Ngokungaphezulu, iBhayibheli ligcwele umlando wamadoda nabesifazane bokholo abayizisebenzi ezikhuthele, ezijabulayo, abayizibonelo ezikhuthazayo nezishukumisayo kithi. Nokho amaningi alawomadoda nabesifazane abathembekile babazi ukuthi izithembiso ababezilindile zazingeke zigcwaliseke ngesikhathi sokuphila kwabo. Izizukulwane, kwezinye izikhathi ngisho nezinkulungwane zeminyaka zaziyodlula ngaphambi kokuba izinto ababezilindile zenzeke. Nokho abazange badebesele emsebenzini wabo. Abaningi bakhonza ngenjabulo baze baguga kakhulu, beqinile ekukholweni, beshiseka ekulaleleni uNkulunkulu, ngokubekezela belinde ukufezeka kwezinjongo zakhe. Ngokungaphezulu, emakhulwini eminyaka, uNkulunkulu wanikeza isambulo sakhe kancane kancane. Ngakho, lawomadoda akudala okholo ayenolwazi oluncane kakhulu lwendlela uNkulunkulu ayezofeza ngayo izinto ayezithembisile kunalolo ongaba nalo namuhla.
5. Yisiphi isibonelo esabekwa uAbela?
5 Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ukuthi luncane kangakanani ulwazi ayenalo uAbela. Wayazi kuphela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayethembise “inzalo” nokuthi esikhathini esithile esizayo ‘leyonzalo’ yayizochoboza ikhanda lenyoka. (Genesise 3:15) Nokho uJesu wambiza ngokuthi uAbela “olungileyo,” futhi ubalwa kuqala ohideni lukaPawulu lwamadoda avelele okholo. (Mathewu 23:35; Heberu 11:4) Ingabe wawuyoba nokholo olufanayo unolwazi oluncane olwalutholakala ngesikhathi sika-Abela?
6, 7. Nakuba ezinye izithembiso ezanikezwa uNkulunkulu zingazange zigcwaliseke ngosuku luka-Abrahama, wasibekela kanjani isibonelo esihle?
6 UNowa, uAbrahama, ulsaka noJakobe bonke baphila ngaphambi kokubonakalisa kukaJehova amandla akhe amakhulu ngesikhathi sohambo lwamaIsrayeli ephuma eGibithe. Babengazi lutho ngezehlakalo ezesabekayo ezazizohambisana nokunikezwa koMthetho eSinayi. Ngesikhathi sokuphila kwabo, ngisho nencwadi yokuqala yeBhayibheli yayingakabhalwa.
7 UAbrahama wayengenathemba lokuthi iPharadesi lalizobuyiselwa emhlabeni ngesikhathi sokuphila kwakhe. Kunalokho, watshelwa ukuthi inzalo yakhe yayizohlushwa iminyaka engama-400. Kuphela kwakungesikhathi esithile esizayo lapho isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sasiyogcwaliseka khona sokuthi ‘ngenzalo ka-Abrahama ziyakubusiswa izizwe zonke zomhlaba.’ (Genesise 15:13; 22:18; Galathiya 3:8) UAbrahama “wayebheke umuzi onezisekelo, omakhi nomenzi wawo uNkulunkulu.” (Heberu 11:10) Iqiniso lokuthi uAbrahama wayengeke awubone ngosuku lwakhe kodwa ngesikhathi sovuko alizange linciphise ukholo lwakhe, ukulalela kanye nentshiseko ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. Singase sizibuze: Ingabe nginohlobo lokholo, ukulalela kanye nentshiseko uAbrahama ayenakho?
8. Sifundani kuMose ngokuphathelene nesineke nokukhuthazela?
8 UMose wayecabanga ukuthi wayengenakukwazi ukwenza umsebenzi uNkulunkulu ayemabele wona. Wathi wayenamalimi futhi enomuzwa wokuthi abantu bakubo ngisho noFaro babengenakumlalela. (Eksodusi 4:1, 10; 6:12) Kodwa uMose walalela. Wenza lokho uJehova amtshela khona, futhi lokhu wakwenza isikhathi eside kakhulu. Ehlane uMose wayazi ukuthi kwakuzoba iminyaka engama-40 ngaphezulu ngaphambi kokuba abantu bakhe bangene eZweni Lesithembiso, futhi ngenxa yesono sakhe sakamuva watshelwa ukuthi wayengenakungena ezweni ngisho nangaleso sikhathi. Nokho iminyaka eminingi waqhubeka endleleni kaJehova. (Numeri 14:33, 34; 20:9-12; Duteronomi 3:23-28; 34:1-6) Ingabe uthando lwakho ngoNkulunkulu lwaluyokushukumisela ekubeni nokubekezela kanye nenkuthalo enjalo enkonzweni yakhe? Ingabe ngokwethembeka wawuyoholela abanye emgomweni owaziyo ukuthi wena ngokwakho awunakuwufinyelela?
9, 10. UIsaya noJeremiya bakubonakalisa kanjani ukukhuthazela, ngaphandle kwethemba lokuthola umvuzo owawulangazelelwa phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwabo?
9 Lapho uJehova ebuza ukuthi ubani owayezohamba ayomkhulumela, uIsaya wathi: “Nangu mina; ngithume mina.” (Isaya 6:8-11) Iminyaka engaphezu kwama-40 wakhonza njengomprofethi kaJehova. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, uIsaya wadlulisela isithembiso sikaJehova ‘samazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha,’ nakuba kwakungekho themba lesimiso esisha sokulunga osukwini lwakhe. (Isaya 65:17-25) Ingabe wawuyothembeka kanjalo ngenxa nje yokuthi ukulondoloza ukwethembeka kwakulungile futhi kusekuvumelaneni nothando lwakho olujulile ngoNkulunkulu?
10 UJeremiya wasetshenziswa ukuba amemezele izixwayiso ezingathandeki kubantu abangakholwa. Akukho Pharadesi lasemhlabeni lokulunga elalizoba khona ekupheleni kokushumayela kwakhe. Kunalokho, iJerusalema lakubo alithandayo lalizokuba “incithakalo nesimangaliso,” lichithwe ngenxa yezakhamuzi zalo ezingenalukholo. UJeremiya wayazi ukuthi kwakuzoba khona ukuvuselelwa, kodwa kwakungeke kwenzeke kungakadluli iminyaka engama-70—cishe esinye isikhathi esingangobude bokuphila komuntu! (Jeremiya 25:8-11; 29:10) Iqiniso lokuthi wayengenakuphila aze abone ukuvuselelwa okubikezelwe alizange lenze uJeremiya angashumayeli. Ngisho nalapho ezama ukuyeka, iZwi likaJehova ‘lalinjengomlilo oshisayo’ emathanjeni akhe. Kwakufanele akhulume, futhi uJehova wayenaye “njengeqhawe elesabisayo.”—Jeremiya 20:7-11.
Usizo Ekukhuthazeleni Kwethu
11, 12. IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi izibonelo zakudala kufanele zisishukumisele ukuba senzeni?
11 Umphostoli uPawulu wabonisa umphumela lezozibonelo okufanele zibe nawo kithi. Wabhala: “Ngalokho-ke nathi, lokhu sinefu elingaka lofakazi elisihaqileyo, masilahle konke okusindayo nesono [ukuntuleka kokholo] esithandela kangaka kithi, sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhu kuncintisana esikumiselweyo.”—Heberu 12:1.
12 UPawulu futhi wabhala: “Ngokuba konke okwalotshwa ngaphambili kwalotshelwa ukufundiswa kwethu, ukuze ngokubekezela nangenduduzo yemibhalo sibe-nethemba. Kepha uNkulunkulu wokubekezela nowenduduzo makaniphe nibe-nokuqonda kunye phakathi kwenu ngokukaKristu Jesu, ukuze nganhliziyonye nidumise ngamlomo munye uNkulunkulu uYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.” (Roma 15:4-6) Ngakho, lezizibonelo zakudala zokholo kufanele zisishukumisele ukuba sibekezele sibambelele esabelweni sethu sokushumayela nokufundisa, kanjalo sidumise uJehova ngentshiseko, uNkulunkulu noYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.
13. Yini esiyaziyo leyo amadoda akudala okholo angazange abe nethuba lokuyifunda?
13 Cabanga nje ngezinto eziqinisa ukholo esizaziyo lezo abaprofethi bakudala abathembekile ababengenakuzazi. Lapho besaphila, akekho noyedwa owayazi ukuthi uMesiya wayezoba ubani. Kodwa thina asazi nje kuphela ukuthi ungubani; sazi futhi ngokuzalwa, ukufundisa, ukufa kanye nokuvuka kwaLowo, uJesu Kristu. Ngokuqhubekayo, sazi ngesihlengo, uMbuso kanye ‘nenzalo’ lawomadoda ayeyilindele ngokwethembeka. Ngokungaphezulu, sinayo yonke imiBhalo yesiGreki yamaKristu—kusukela kuMathewu kuze kube kusAmbulo. Futhi sinethuba lokuqonda leyoncwadi emangalisayo yesAmbulo, kanye neziprofetho zayo eziqinisa ukholo ezigcwaliseka kulesikhathi sethu nezisazogcwaliseka. Ngempela, siphila esikhathini esivusa amadlingozi nesibucayi—isikhathi lawomadoda ayesilindele ngentshiseko.
Izibonelo Zenkonzo Yentshiseko
14, 15. Ingabe iqiniso lokuthi uMbuso wawungowesikhathi esizayo lawadumaza amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala? Chaza.
14 Abalandeli bakaJesu bokuqala babengenasineke sokulinda ukubona uMbuso othenjisiwe. Babuza uJesu: “Nkosi, usawubuyisela umbuso kwaIsrayeli ngalesikhathi na?” Labobafundi babengaqapheli ngalesosikhathi ukuthi uMbuso wawuzoba ngowasezulwini. Babezokuqonda lokhu kamuva ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa uJesu wabazisa ukuthi babenomsebenzi omkhulu wokuwenza. Wathi: ‘babezoba ofakazi bakhe eJerusalema, naseJudiya lonke, naseSamariya kuze kube sekugcineni komhlaba.’ (IzEnzo 1:6-8) Lowomsebenzi awuzange ubonakale umkhulu kakhulu ukuba bawenze. Ngosuku lwePentekoste ngo-33 C.E., abafundi abangaba yi-120, bephansi kokuqondisa komoya ongcwele, baqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Abantu abangaba yizi-3 000 balamukela izwi ngalolosuku! Futhi ngesikhathi esifushane umpristi ophakeme wakwaJuda wayengathi: “Bhekani, senigcwalise iJerusalema ngesifundiso senu.”—IzEnzo 2:41; 5:28.
15 Abantu ababekhona ngalesosikhathi eJerusalema bevela ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zaseYurophu, eAsia naseAfrika ngokunokwenzeka baphindela emazweni akubo nezindaba ezinhle. (IzEnzo 2:5-11) Ngokushesha uPawulu wayeshumayela ngentshiseko futhi esiza ukuba kumiswe amabandla obuKristu kuso sonke isifunda samaRoma sase-Asiya naseGrisi. Waqhubekela eRoma futhi ngokunokwenzeka ngisho naseSpain. UPetru wahamba ngolunye uhlangothi, kwaze kwaba seBabiloni. Ngemva kweminyaka ecishe ibe ngama-30 yomsebenzi walamaKristu okuqala kanye nezixuku ayezifundisile, uPawulu wayengasho ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ‘zazishunyayelwe kukho konke okudaliweyo phansi kwezulu.’ (Kolose 1:23) Yeka umsebenzi abawenza, ngentshiseko belalela umyalo kaJesu wokufundisa abanye!—Mathewu 28:19, 20; Thithu 2:13, 14.
Isimiso Siyaphela
16. Isiphi isehlakalo amaKristu okuqala ayesilindile?
16 Nokho, sasikhona isikhathi esasibaluleke ngokukhethekile kumaKristu ekhulu lokuqala. UJesu wayethé: “Kepha nxa nibona iJerusalema lihaqiwe yizimpi, yazini ukuthi sekusondele ukuchithwa kwalo. Khona abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume, abasemaphandleni bangangeni kulo. Ngokuba lezi ziyizinsuku zempindiselo ukuba kugcwaliseke konke okulotshiweyo.”—Luka 21:20-22.
17, 18. (a) AmaKristu asithatha nini futhi kanjani isinyathelo esivumelana namazwi kaJesu abhalwe kuLuka 21:20-22? (b) Yikuphi ukuvivinywa okuqhubekayo okungenzeka ukuthi abhekana nakho?
17 Iminyaka engaphezu kwama-30 yayisidlulile. Khona-ke, ngonyaka ka-66 C.E., amabutho amaRoma avimbezela iJerusalema. Lapho esezonqoba, ahlehla. Beqhoshiswe umqondo wokuthi babewahlulile, abantu bakwaJuda bawalandela amaRoma.a Kodwa yini amaKristu ayezoyenza? UEusebius, owaphila engxenyeni yokuqala yekhulu lesine, ubika ukuthi “labo ababekholelwa kuKristu baphuma eJerusalema” baya emzini wasePerea obizwa ngokuthi iPella.b
18 Isikhathi saqhubeka. Unyaka ka-66 waphela kwangena u-67. Khona-ke u-68 wafika futhi wadlula, kanye no-69. Ingabe lawomaKristu ayevivinywa ngokuqhubeka kwesikhathi? Ingabe izinto zathatha isikhathi eside kakhulu ngabanye? Ingabe babesephutheni? UJesu wayengashongo ukuthi kulindwe isikhathi esingakanani. Kodwa uma abanye babuyela eJerusalema kwakuwusizi ngabo, ngoba ngo-70 amaRoma abuya, athumba umuzi futhi abulala abaningi bezakhamuzi zawo. Isazimlando uJosephus uthi kwafa abantu abayi-1 100 000, ngoba iJerusalema “laligcwele izakhamuzi,” izixuku ezazivela “kulo lonke izwe” zizele iPhasika eJerusalema.c
19. (a) Namuhla, yimiphi imibuzo ebaluleke ngempela ngomKristu ozinikezele ukuba ayiphendule? (b) Yini okumelwe isishukumisele ukuba sibe matasa enkonzweni engcwele?
19 Ingabe lokho kukwenza ucabange ngesimo sanamuhla? Umbuzo awukhona ukuthi: Lesi simiso esidala sezinto siyophela nini? Lokho kuyokwenzeka ngesikhathi esifanelekile sikaNkulunkulu. Okufanele sicabange ngakho yilokho esikwenzayo. Sifanele sizibuze: Ingabe ngiye ngatadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngenkuthalo futhi ngokungagodli nganikela ukuphila kwami kuye? Ingabe ngempela ngiphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwami? Akukhona ukusondela kwesikhathi okumelwe kusishukumisele ukuba sibe matasa enkonzweni engcwele. NjengoAbela, uAbrahama, uMose, uIsaya nabanye, uthando ngoJehova uNkulunkulu kufanele lusishukumisele ukuba senze lokho. Sifanele sikhonze uJehova ngokuzithandela, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isiphelo siyofika nini. Kodwa manje sinesisusa esikhethekile. Sifinyelele ingxenye yokugcina ‘yalezinsuku zokugcina’ zalesimiso samanje. (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Leloqiniso kufanele lisishukumisele enkonzweni ekhethekile.
20. Izehlakalo oye wazibona ziqhathaniseka kanjani nalezo ezabonwa amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala?
20 AmaKristu abaleka eJerusalema ngoba ayebone izimpawu eziningi ‘zesibonakaliso’ sikaJesu zenzeka futhi esebone ukugcwaliseka kwamazwi akhe ngamabutho evimbezela umuzi. Kusukela ngonyaka wezehlakalo ka-1914 siye sabona ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho eziningi ngokuphathelene nesikhathi sokuphela. (Mathewu, izahluko 24, 25; IsAmbulo 6:1-8; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Lezizehlakalo ezaprofethwa zaqala ukwenzeka eminyakeni engama-70 edlule. Kodwa, uJesu wathi zonke zazizokwenzeka phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kwesizukulwane esisodwa. (Mathewu 24:32-34) Ngokusobala, sesikude kakhulu nalesosizukulwane!
Ukushiseka Okholweni
21. Kungani inkonzo yentshiseko kuNkulunkulu iyindaba ephuthumayo?
21 Umsebenzi osindisa ukuphila ngokuvamile kufanele wenziwe ngokuphuthuma. Isikhathi sethu singesomsebenzi okhethekile, inkonzo eyandisiwe kanye nokholo nentshiseko eyengeziwe. Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi ngolunye usuku kuyoba usuku lwethu lokugcina kulesimiso esidala. Kungenzeka siyobe siphile kwaze kwaba sesiphelweni salesimiso noma ukuphila kwethu kuyonqamuka kuqala. Ukuphila manje kufishane, kuyashesha. Akekho owaziyo ukuthi uyobe esaphila yini kusasa. Sinesikhathi esilinganiselwe kuphela sokubonakalisa ukuthembeka nobuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu. (IHubo 39:5; UmShumayeli 12:1; Luka 12:18-21) Ngakho, kungaba okufanelekile ukuzibuza, ingabe nganelisekile ngalokho engikwenzile namuhla?
22. Ithini imibhalo ngomvuzo?
22 Kubalulekile ukungawukhohlwa umvuzo. Bheka njalo umvuzo. UJesu wathi: “Okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.” UPawulu wabhala ukuthi “yilowo nalowo uyakwamukeliswa owakhe umvuzo ngokomsebenzi wakhe.” Wathi futhi: “Ngokuba nidinga ukubekezela, ukuze seniyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu namukele isithembiso.”—Marku 13:13; 1 Korinte 3:8; Heberu 10:36.
23, 24. Ngokucabangela iseluleko semiBhalo yeBhayibheli ecashunwe lapha, yini ozimisele ukuyenza ngokuphathelene nokholo lwakho nenkonzo yoMbuso?
23 ImiBhalo iyaseluleka: “Njengokuba konke kuyakubhidlika kanjalo, kumelwe ukuba nibe-ngabantu abanjani ekuhambeni okungcwele nasekumesabeni uNkulunkulu, nibheka nilangazelela ukufika kosuku lukaNkulunkulu.” Ngokuqhubekayo, siyatshelwa: “Kepha ngesikhathi nangemizuzu, bazalwane, anisweli ukulotshelwa, ngokuba nina uqobo niyazi kahle ukuthi usuku lweNkosi luza njengesela ebusuku. . . . Ngalokho-ke masingalali njengabanye, kodwa masiqwashe, siqonde.”—2 Petru 3:11, 12; 1 Thesalonika 5:1-6.
24 Khona-ke, sengathi singalondoloza ukholo oluqinile futhi silokhu sishiseka enkonzweni yoMbuso, singangabazi neze. Uma senza kanjalo, singasho nomphostoli ukuthi: “Kepha thina asisibo abokuhlehlela emuva ekubhujisweni kodwa singabokukholwa, kuze kube ngukusindiswa komphefumulo.”—Heberu 10:39.
[Imibhalo yaphansi]
a Josephus, Wars of the Jews, II, 19:5-7.
b Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, III, 5:3.
c Josephus, Wars of the Jews, VI, 9:3, 4.
Izinto Zokukhunjulwa
◻ Isibonelo sika-Abela, uAbrahama, uMose kanye noJeremiya sisikhuthaza kanjani kithi namuhla?
◻ Iqiniso lokuthi uMbuso wawungakafiki laba namuphi umphumela kumaKristu akuqala?
◻ Yikuphi ukuvivinywa okungenzeka ukuthi amaKristu akuqala ahlangabezana nakho ngemva kokubaleka eJerusalema?
◻ Kumelwe kube yini ukukhathalela kwethu okuyinhloko manje?
[Izithombe ekhasini 30]
Abazange bayeke!
UAbela
UAbrahama
UDavide
UJeremiya
UPawulu