UJehova Uyazifeza Izithembiso Zakhe Kwabakholekileyo
“Ukholekile lowo owathembisa.”—HEBERU 10:23.
1, 2. Kungani singazethemba ngokugcwele izithembiso zikaJehova?
UJEHOVA ucela izinceku zakhe ukuba zakhe futhi zilondoloze ukholo oluqinile kuye nasezithembisweni zakhe. Ngokholo olunjalo, umuntu angamethemba ngokuphelele uJehova ukuthi uyokwenza lokho athembise ukukwenza. IZwi lakhe eliphefumulelwe lithi: “UJehova-Sebawoti ufungile, wathi: Impela njengokulinganisa kwami kuyakuba-njalo, nanjengokunquma kwami kuyakuma kanjalo.”—Isaya 14:24.
2 Inkulumo ethi, “uJehova-Sebawoti ufungile,” ibonisa ukuthi uyagomela ukuthi uyozifeza izithembiso zakhe. Yingakho iZwi lakhe lithi: “Themba kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mazise yena ezindleleni zakho zonke, uyakuqondisa imikhondo yakho.” (IzAga 3:5, 6) Lapho sithembela kuJehova futhi sivuma ukuba siqondiswe ukuhlakanipha kwakhe, izindlela zethu nakanjani ziyoholela ekuphileni okumi phakade, ngoba ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu “kungumuthi wokuphila kwabakubambayo.”—IzAga 3:18; Johane 17:3.
Ukholo Lweqiniso Ezikhathini Zasendulo
3. UNowa walubonisa kanjani ukholo kuJehova?
3 Umlando wezenzo zikaJehova kulabo abanokholo lweqiniso ufakazela ukuthi singamethemba. Ngokwesibonelo, eminyakeni engaphezu kwengu-4 400 edlule, uNkulunkulu watshela uNowa ukuthi izwe losuku lwakhe lalizobhujiswa ngoZamcolo wembulunga yonke. Wayala uNowa ukuba akhe umkhumbi omkhulu ukuze kusindiswe ukuphila kwabantu nokwezilwane. UNowa wenze njani? EyamaHeberu 11:7 iyasitshela: “Ngokholo uNowa, ngemva kokunikwa isixwayiso saphezulu sezinto ezingakabonwa, wabonisa ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” Kungani uNowa aba nokholo entweni eyayingakaze yenzeke ngaphambili, into ‘eyayingakabonwa’? Yingoba wayenolwazi olwanele ngokusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nomkhaya wesintu esikhathini esidlule olwamenza wazi ukuthi noma yini uNkulunkulu ayishoyo iyenzeka. Ngakho uNowa wayeqiniseka ukuthi noZamcolo wawuzofika.—Genesise 6:9-22.
4, 5. Kungani u-Abrahama amethemba ngokugcwele uJehova?
4 Esinye isibonelo sokholo lweqiniso u-Abrahama. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 900 edlule, uNkulunkulu wamtshela ukuba anikele ngendodana yakhe u-Isaka, owayewukuphela kweNdodana yakhe kuSara, umkakhe. (Genesise 22:1-10) Wasabela kanjani u-Abrahama? EyamaHeberu 11:17 ithi: “Ngokholo u-Abrahama, lapho evivinywa, kwafana nokuthi usenikele ngo-Isaka.” Nokho, ngomzuzu wokugcina, ingelosi kaJehova yamvimba u-Abrahama. (Genesise 22:11, 12) Kodwa kungani u-Abrahama ayengaze akucabange nokukucabanga ukwenza into enjalo? Kungenxa yokuthi, njengoba eyamaHeberu 11:19 isho, “wathi uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukumvusa [u-Isaka] ngisho nakwabafileyo.” Kodwa u-Abrahama wayengaba kanjani nokholo ovukweni kuyilapho ayengakaze abone muntu evusiwe, futhi kwakungekho mlando wowake wavuswa?
5 Khumbula, uSara wayeneminyaka engu-89 lapho uNkulunkulu ebathembisa indodana. Isibeletho sikaSara sasingasasebenzi—sase sifana nesifile. (Genesise 18:9-14) UNkulunkulu wenza isibeletho sikaSara saphinde sasebenza, wazala u-Isaka. (Genesise 21:1-3) U-Abrahama wayazi ukuthi njengoba uNkulunkulu ayenze isibeletho sikaSara esasingasasebenzi saphinde sasebenza, khona-ke wayengase akwazi nokubuyisela u-Isaka ekuphileni uma kudingeka. EyabaseRoma 4:20, 21 ithi ngo-Abrahama: “Ngenxa yesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu akazange antengantenge ngokuntula ukholo, kodwa waba namandla ngokholo lwakhe, enika uNkulunkulu inkazimulo futhi eqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi lokho ayekuthembisile uyakwazi futhi nokukwenza.”
6. UJoshuwa wakuzwakalisa kanjani ukumethemba uJehova?
6 Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-3 400 edlule lapho uJoshuwa ayeseneminyaka engaphezu kweyikhulu ubudala futhi esebonile ekuphileni kwakhe konke ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthembeke kangakanani, wanikeza lesi sizathu sethemba lakhe: “Niyazi ezinhliziyweni zenu zonke nasemiphefumulweni yenu yonke ukuthi akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kuzo zonke izinto ezinhle azikhuluma uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngani; kwenziwa konke kini, akuphuthanga nento eyodwa kukho.”—Joshuwa 23:14.
7, 8. Iyiphi inkambo esindisayo amaKristu akholekile ayithatha ekhulwini lokuqala, futhi ngani?
7 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 900 edlule, abantu abaningi abathobekile babonisa ukholo lweqiniso. Baqaphela ekugcwalisekeni kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya futhi bamukela izimfundiso zakhe. Benesisekelo esiqinile emaqinisweni athile nasemiBhalweni YesiHeberu, baba nokholo kulokho uJesu ayekufundisa. Ngakho, lapho uJesu ethi isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu sasizokwehlela iJudiya neJerusalema ngenxa yokungathembeki, bamkholwa. Futhi lapho ebatshela inkambo okwakudingeka bayithathe ukuze basindise ukuphila kwabo, bakwenza.
8 UJesu watshela amakholwa ukuthi lapho iJerusalema lihaqwa amabutho, kwakufanele abaleke. Amabutho aseRoma alihlasela iJerusalema ngonyaka ka-66 C.E. Kodwa ngesizathu esingachazeki, amaRoma abe esesuka ehamba. Lolo kwakuwuphawu lokuba amaKristu ashiye umuzi, ngoba uJesu wayethé: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni, futhi labo abaphakathi kwalo mabasuke, futhi labo abasemaphandleni mabangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Labo ababenokholo lweqiniso balishiya iJerusalema nendawo yalo, babalekela endaweni yokuphephela.
Imiphumela Yokuntula Ukholo
9, 10. (a) Abaholi benkolo bakubonisa kanjani ukuntula kwabo ukholo kuJesu? (b) Yaba yini imiphumela yalokho kuntula ukholo?
9 Benzani labo ababengenalo ukholo lweqiniso? Ababalekanga lapho benethuba. Bacabanga ukuthi abaholi babo babengabasindisa. Nokho, nabo labo baholi nabalandeli babo babenobufakazi bokuthi uJesu unguMesiya. Pho kungani bengakwamukelanga lokho ayekushilo? Ngenxa yesimo esibi sezinhliziyo zabo. Lokhu kwakuvelé obala ngaphambili lapho bebona abantu abaningi abavamile bethuthelekela kuJesu ngemva kokuba evuse uLazaru. UJohane 11:47, 48 uyalandisa: “Abapristi abakhulu nabaFarisi babuthela ndawonye iSanhedrini [inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda] futhi baqala ukuthi: ‘Sizokwenzenjani, ngoba lomuntu [uJesu] wenza izibonakaliso eziningi? Uma simyeka ngalendlela, bonke bazobeka ukholo kuye, futhi amaRoma azofika athathe kokubili indawo yethu nesizwe sethu.’” Ivesi 53 lithi: “Ngakho-ke kusukela ngalolosuku kuqhubeke bacebisana ngokuba bambulale.”
10 Yeka ukuthi kwakuyisimangaliso esihle kangakanani leso uJesu ayesenzile—ukubuyisa uLazaru kwabafileyo! Kodwa abaholi benkolo bafuna ukumbulala uJesu ngenxa yokwenza lokho. Ububi babo obukhulu baba sobala nakakhulu lapho ‘abapristi abakhulu becebisana ukuba babulale noLazaru, ngoba abaningi kumaJuda babeya lapho ngenxa yakhe futhi bebeka ukholo kuJesu.’ (Johane 12:10, 11) ULazaru wayesanda kuvuswa nje ekufeni, futhi labo bapristi babefuna ukuphinde bambone efile! Babengenandaba nentando kaNkulunkulu noma inhlalakahle yabantu. Babenobugovu, bekhathalela izikhundla nenzuzo yabo. “Babethanda inkazimulo yabantu ngisho nangaphezu kwenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.” (Johane 12:43) Kodwa bakhokha ngokuntula kwabo ukholo. Ngonyaka ka-70 C.E., amabutho aseRoma abuya futhi ayibhubhisa indawo yabo nesizwe sabo, kanye nabaningi babo.
Ukuboniswa Kokholo Esikhathini Sethu
11. Ukholo lweqiniso lwaboniswa kanjani ekuqaleni kwaleli khulu leminyaka?
11 Nakuleli khulu leminyaka kuye kwaba namadoda nabesifazane abaningi bokholo lweqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, emuva ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1900, abantu abaningi babelindele ikusasa elinokuthula nelichumayo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, labo ababenokholo kuJehova babememezela ukuthi isintu sase sizongena enkathini eyayizoba nezinkathazo ezimbi kakhulu emlandweni. Yilokho iZwi likaNkulunkulu elalikubikezele kuMathewu isahluko 24, ku-2 Thimothewu isahluko 3 nakwezinye izindawo. Okwakushiwo yilabo bantu bokholo kwenzeka ngempela, kwaqala ngo-1914 ngeMpi Yezwe I. Ngempela izwe langena “ezinsukwini zokugcina” ezabikezelwa, ‘ezinezikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1) Kungani izinceku zikaJehova zazilazi iqiniso mayelana nezimo zezwe emuva ngaleso sikhathi kuyilapho abanye babengalazi? Yingoba, njengoJoshuwa, zazinokholo lokuthi akukho nelilodwa emazwini kaJehova elaliyohluleka.
12. Yisiphi isithembiso sikaJehova izinceku zakhe ezisethemba ngokugcwele namuhla?
12 Namuhla, izinceku zikaJehova ezimethembayo, zibalelwa ezigidini ezithi azibe isithupha emhlabeni wonke. Ngenxa yobufakazi bokugcwaliseka kwezwi likaNkulunkulu eliyisiprofetho, ziyazi ukuthi maduze nje uzosiqeda lesi simiso sezinto esinobudlova nokuziphatha okubi. Ngakho ziyaqiniseka ukuthi sesiseduze isikhathi ezizobona ngaso ukugcwaliseka kweyoku-1 Johane 2:17, ethi: “Izwe liyadlula kanjalo nesifiso salo, kodwa lowo owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube phakade.” Izinceku zikaJehova zinethemba eligcwele lokuthi uJehova uzosifeza lesi sithembiso.
13. Ungamethemba kangakanani uJehova?
13 Ungamethemba kangakanani uJehova? Ungamethemba kuze kube seqophelweni lokufa! Ngisho noma ungalahlekelwa ukuphila kwakho manje ngenxa yokumkhonza, uyokubuyisela ukuphila okungcono kakhulu ngovuko. UJesu uyasiqinisekisa: “Ihora liyeza lapho bonke abasemathuneni ayisikhumbuzo [okusho ukuthi, abasenkumbulweni kaNkulunkulu] beyozwa khona izwi layo futhi baphume.” (Johane 5:28, 29) Ukhona yini udokotela, umholi wezombangazwe, usosayensi, usomabhizinisi noma omunye umuntu omaziyo ongakwenza lokho? Umlando wabo ubonisa ukuthi abanakukwenza. UJehova angakwenza, futhi uyokwenza!
Abakholekileyo Banekusasa Elimangalisayo
14. Yiliphi ikusasa elimangalisayo iZwi likaNkulunkulu elilithembisa abakholekileyo?
14 UJesu wabonisa indlela eliqiniseke ngayo izwe elisha ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, ethi: “Bayajabula abanomoya omnene, ngoba bayozuza umhlaba njengefa.” (Mathewu 5:5) Lokho kwagcizelela isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu esikumaHubo 37:29: “Abalungileyo bazakudla ifa lomhlaba, bahlale kuwo njalonjalo.” Futhi ngaphambi nje kokufa kukaJesu, lapho umenzi wobubi ebonisa ukholo kuye, uJesu wathi kuleyo ndoda: “Uyoba nami ePharadesi.” (Luka 23:43) Yebo, njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJesu uyoqikelela ukuthi le ndoda ivuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni inethuba lokuphila phakade kulelo Pharadesi. Namuhla, labo ababeka ukholo lwabo eMbusweni kaJehova nabo bangabheka phambili ekuphileni ePharadesi lapho ‘[uNkulunkulu] eyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni abo, futhi ukufa kuyobe kungasekho, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu kuyobe kungasekho.’—IsAmbulo 21:4.
15, 16. Kungani ukuphila kuyoba nokuthula ezweni elisha?
15 Ake sigxilise izingqondo zethu kulelo lizwe elisha. Ake sizicabange sesiphila kulo. Ngokushesha, yonke indawo sibona abantu abajabule behlezi ndawonye ngokuthula okuphelele. Bajabulela izimo ezifana nalezo ezichazwe ku-Isaya 14:7: “Wonke umhlaba uyaphumula, usenokuthula; baqhumuka ngokuhlabelela.” Kungani benjalo? Phakathi kokunye, phawula ukuthi iminyango yezindlu zabo ayinamishudo. Asikho isidingo sayo ngoba abukho ubugebengu noma ubudlova. Kunjengoba nje iZwi likaNkulunkulu lalithé kuyoba njalo: “Bayakuhlala, kube-yilowo nalowo phansi komvini wakhe naphansi komkhiwane wakhe; akakho oyakubesabisa.”—Mika 4:4.
16 Ayisekho nempi, ngoba kuleli lizwe elisha impi ayivunyelwe. Zonke izikhali ziye zenziwa amathuluzi okuthula. U-Isaya 2:4 ugcwaliseké ngomqondo ophelele: “Bayakukhanda izinkemba zabo zibe-ngamakhuba, nemikhonto yabo ibe-ngocelemba; isizwe asiyikuphakamisela isizwe inkemba, zingabe zisafunda ukulwa.” Kodwa-ke, yilokho ebesikulindele! Ngani? Ngoba izakhamuzi eziningi zalo mhlaba omusha zafunda ukwenza lokho ngenkathi zisakhonza uNkulunkulu ezweni elidala.
17. Ziyoba njani izimo zokuphila ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu?
17 Okunye futhi okuphawulayo ukuthi abukho ubumpofu. Akekho ohlala emjondolo ongcolile noma ogqoka amanikiniki noma ongenakhaya. Wonke umuntu unomuzi othokomele nendawo elungiswe kahle enezihlahla ezinhle nezimbali. (Isaya 35:1, 2; 65:21, 22; Hezekeli 34:27) Futhi ayikho indlala ngoba uNkulunkulu usigcwalisile isithembiso sakhe sokuthi bonke babeyoba nenala yokudla: “Kuyakuba-khona inala kakolweni ezweni esiqongweni sezintaba.” (IHubo 72:16) Ngempela, ngaphansi kokuqondisa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ipharadesi elihle linwebekela emhlabeni wonke, njengoba nje uNkulunkulu ayehlosile emuva e-Edene.—Genesise 2:8.
18. Ezweni elisha, yiziphi izinto ezingeke zisasongela abantu?
18 Umangazwa nawukuthi wonke umuntu unamandla. Lokhu kubangelwa ukuthi sebenemizimba nezingqondo okuphelele. Akusekho ukugula, ubuhlungu noma ukufa. Akekho osesihlalweni sabakhubazekile noma osembhedeni wasesibhedlela. Konke lokho sekushabalele unomphela. (Isaya 33:24; 35:5, 6) Phela, azikho nezilwane eziwusongo, ngoba amandla kaNkulunkulu azenze zaba nokuthula!—Isaya 11:6-8; 65:25; Hezekeli 34:25.
19. Kungani zonke izinsuku ezweni elisha ziyoba ‘ezokuthokoza okukhulu’?
19 Yeka impucuko emangalisayo eyakhiwa izakhamuzi ezithembekile zalo mhlaba omusha! Amandla namakhono azo kanye nengcebo yomhlaba kusetshenziselwa izinto ezizuzisayo, hhayi ezilimazayo; ukubambisana nabanye, hhayi ukuncintisana nabo. Futhi wonke umuntu ohlangana naye ungumuntu ongamethemba, ngoba, njengoba uNkulunkulu ayethembisile, bonke ‘bangabafundi bakaJehova.’ (Isaya 54:13) Njengoba wonke umuntu ebuswa imithetho kaNkulunkulu, ‘umhlaba ugcwele ukumazi uJehova njengamanzi asibekela ulwandle.’ (Isaya 11:9) Ngempela, kulo mhlaba omusha zonke izinsuku zinjengoba iHubo 37:11 lathi ziyoba njalo, ‘ezokuthokoza okukhulu.’
Ikusasa Elijabulisayo Liqinisekisiwe
20. Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sijabulele ikusasa elinokuthula?
20 Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sibe ingxenye yalelo kusasa elijabulisayo? U-Isaya 55:6 uyasitshela: “Mfuneni uJehova esenokutholwa, nimbize eseseduze.” Futhi njengoba simfuna, isimo sethu sengqondo kufanele sibe njengesichazwe kumaHubo 143:10: “Ngifundise ukwenza intando yakho, ngokuba wena unguNkulunkulu wami.” Labo abakwenzayo lokhu bangahamba ngokungasoleki phambi kukaJehova phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina futhi bangabheka phambili ekusaseni elihle. “Mbhekisise ongasolekiyo, umbone oqotho; ngokuba umuntu wokuthula, ukugcina kwakhe kuhle. Kepha abaphambukayo bayakubhujiswa bonke; isikhathi sababi siyakunqunywa.”—IHubo 37:37, 38.
21, 22. Yini uNkulunkulu ayakhayo namuhla, futhi kufezwa kanjani ukuqeqeshwa?
21 Njengamanje kuzo zonke izizwe uJehova ubiza labo abafuna ukwenza intando yakhe. Uyababumba abenze babe isisekelo salo mphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni, njengoba isiprofetho seBhayibheli sabikezela: “Ngezinsuku ezizayo [isikhathi esiphila kuso manje] . . . abantu abaningi bayakuhamba, bathi: Wozani sikhuphukele entabeni kaJehova endlini kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe; uyakusifundisa izindlela zakhe, sihambe emikhondweni yakhe.”—Isaya 2:2, 3.
22 IsAmbulo 7:9 sibachaza ‘njengesixuku esikhulu esivela kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.’ Ivesi 14 lithi: “Laba yilabo abaphuma osizini olukhulu,” basinde ekupheleni kwesimiso sezinto samanje. Lesi sisekelo sezwe elisha manje sithi asibe izigidi eziyisithupha ngobuningi, kanti abaningi abasanda kuhlanganyela baba ingxenye yaso unyaka ngamunye. Zonke lezi zinceku zikaJehova ezikholekile ziqeqeshelwa ukuphila ezweni lakhe elisha. Zifunda amakhono angokomoya kanye namanye adingekayo ekuguquleni lo mhlaba ube ipharadesi. Futhi zinethemba eligcwele lokuthi lelo Pharadesi liyofika ngoba “ukholekile lowo owathembisa.”—Heberu 10:23.
Amaphuzu Okubukezwa
◻ Ukuntula ukholo kwaba namiphi imiphumela ekhulwini lokuqala?
◻ Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zingamethemba kangakanani?
◻ Abakholekileyo bayoba nekusasa elinjani?
◻ Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi siba nekusasa elijabulisayo ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Njengamanje uJehova wakha isisekelo somphakathi omusha wasemhlabeni