Ubungane Obuhle Buyaphikelela Ezweni Elingenabungane
“Zenzeleni nina abahlobo ngokukaMamona ongalungile, ukuze kuthi, nxa kuphelile, banamukele ezindlini eziphakade.”—LUKA 16:9.
1. Kungani izAga 14:20 zazingabhekiseli kuJesu Kristu emhlabeni?
“OMPOFU uyazondwa nangumakhelwane wakhe, kepha ocebileyo unabaningi abamthandayo.” (IzAga 14:20) Lesisaga seNkosi yakwaIsrayeli uSolomoni sasingasebenzi kumuntu omkhulu owake waba semhlabeni, uJesu Kristu, omkhulu kunoSolomoni. UJesu akazange adonsele amaIsrayeli ebunganeni obuseduze naye ngezinto ezibonakalayo; futhi akazange abheke umcebo womhlaba njengesisekelo sobungane beqiniso, obungapheli.
2. Yibuphi ubungane uJesu atshela abafundi bakhe ukuba babenze, futhi ngasiphi isizathu?
2 Kuyiqiniso ukuthi ngesinye isikhathi uJesu wathi: “Zenzeleni nina abahlobo ngokukaMamona ongalungile, ukuze kuthi, nxa kuphelile, banamukele ezindlini eziphakade.” (Luka 16:9) Kodwa “abahlobo” [abangane] uJesu ayecabanga ngabo kwakuwuJehova uNkulunkulu, uMthombo wazo zonke izinto eziyinzuzo, naye njengeNdodana kaYise onomcebo ongapheli. Uma thina namuhla silandela lesoseluleko esifanayo, silethwa ebunganeni obuhle kakhulu obungajatshulelwa emhlabeni, lobo bukaJehova uNkulunkulu ngeNdodana yakhe ezidelayo, uJesu Kristu.
3. Yiziphi ‘izindlu eziphakade’ laBangane basezulwini abangasifaka kuzo?
3 Ngenxa yokuphila okungenakufa, laba basezulwini bangahlala bengaBangane bethu abaqotho futhi bangasiholela “ezindlini eziphakade.” Lokhu kuyoba njalo kungakhathaliseki noma ‘lezizindlu eziphakade’ ziyoba sezulwini nazo zonke izingelosi ezingcwele noma lapha emhlabeni ePharadesi elibuyiselwe.—Luka 23:43.
Ukwamukelwa Ebunganeni Obuhle Kakhulu
4. (a) Yisiphi isibonelo seBhayibheli esibonisa ukuthi ubungane noJehova bungathengwa yini? (b) Iyiphi indlela eqondile esingasebenzisa ngayo impahla yethu?
4 Ubungane bukaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke nobeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, uJesu Kristu, abunakuthengwa ngemali. Leliqiniso lagcizelelwa endabeni ka-Ananiya noSafira ebandleni lobuKristu lekhulu lokuqala. Ngaphandle kokufuna udumo nokwaziwa njengoba benza, singasebenzisa ingcebo yethu yezwe ngendlela evunyelwa uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu. (IzEnzo 5:1-11) Yilokho okwakushiwo lapho uJesu Kristu ethi: “Sebenzisani ingcebo yezwe ukuba nizizuzele abangane, ukuze kuthi lapho isiphelile, namukelwe ezindlini zaphakade.”—Luka 16:9, New International Version.
5. Iyiphi indlela uZakewu ayiphishekela, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
5 Lapho uJesu ekhuluma lawomazwi, wayengafuni ukuthandwa abathelisi boMbuso waseRoma nezinye izoni. Wayengenasithakazelo sokuzuza noma iyiphi ingcebo emhlabeni, ngoba wayetshele abafundi bakhe ukuba bazibekele ingcebo ezulwini phezulu. UZakewu, umthelisi ongumJuda kahulumeni waseRoma, wanquma ukusisebenzisa lesiseluleko sikaMesiya uJesu futhi wamemezela obala injongo yakhe yokwenza kanjalo. Ngokuqaphela lesisenzo sokusekela izithakazelo zoMbuso, isivakashi esiphawulekayo sikaZakewu sathi: “Namuhla insindiso ifikile kulendlu, lokhu naye eyindodana ka-Abrahama. Ngokuba iNdodana yomuntu izé ukufuna nokusindisa okulahlekileyo.” (Luka 19:1-10) ‘Okwakulahlekile’ kwakuhlanganisa umthelisi uZakewu ngokwakhe.
6. UZakewu wamukelwa kuphi, kodwa ekabani inkambo engalungile esebenza njengesixwayiso?
6 UZakewu wamukelwa ebunganeni obuhle kakhulu kuwo wonke umhlaba, lobo bukaNkulunkulu noYise wesivakashi esikhethekile ayesingenisile ngaleso sikhathi. Ukuthi uZakewu wambona yini uJesu ngemva kokuvuswa kwaKhe kwabafileyo nokuthi wayengomunye wabafundi abayi-120 abahlangana ekamelweni eliphezulu eJerusalema ngosuku olukhethekile lwePentekoste ngo-33 C.E. akushiwo emlandweni weBhayibheli. Nokho, ngokungangabazeki, uZakewu kwakumelwe atholakale phakathi kwabafundi abazelwe ngomoya nabagcotshiwe abayizi-5 000, okwabikwa ngabo ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho. (IzEnzo, izahluko 2 no-4; 1 Korinte 15:1-6) Kodwa yeka umehluko esinawo ngoAnaniya noSafira, abathintwe ngaphambili! Labo ababili ababehlanganyela nebandla laseJerusalema bazama ukukhulisa udumo lwabo phakathi kwabafundi ngokuqamba amanga ngenani lomnikelo ababewenzile. Isijeziso esabehlela ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabo sabalahlekisela ubungane babo obuhle futhi sisebenza njengesixwayiso kuwo wonke amaKristu namuhla.—IzEnzo 4:34–5:11.
7. Naphezu kokungabi nabungane kwalelizwe, iyiphi into engavamile oFakazi BakaJehova abayijabulelayo?
7 Naphezu kokungabi nabungane kwalelizwe lekhulu lama-20, oFakazi BakaJehova bayaqhubeka bejabulela ubungane obuhle kunabo bonke obukhona. Kodwa kungani bejabulela lento engavamile lapho izinhlangano ezihlukene zenkolo ezingaphezu kwenkulungwane zingenzi kanjalo? Ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi kungoba ofakazi bakaJehova baye benza okuthile okubalulekile lokho amakholwa eLobukholwa angakwenzi. Ngokwesibonelo, oFakazi baye baphuma ezinhlanganweni zenkolo yamanga, ngoba bayaqaphela ukuthi lezi zakha umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga, eBhayibhelini obizwa ngokuthi iBabiloni Elikhulu. Yebo, ukuphuma enkolweni yamanga ethile akumfaki umuntu enhlanganweni kaJehova ngokuzenzekelayo, ngoba umuntu angangena kwenye inhlangano yenkolo yombuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga.
8. Umyalo wokuphuma eBabiloni Elikhulu ubhekiselwe kobani ngokuqondile namuhla?
8 Kumelwe siphawule ukuthi umyalo waphezulu wokuphuma eBabiloni Elikhulu uqondiswe ‘kubantu bami.’ (IsAmbulo 18:4) NgokwemiBhalo yesiHeberu, lolubizo lwaphezulu lungolufanayo nomyalo owanikezwa uNkulunkulu kumaIsrayeli ayedingiselwe ezweni laseBabiloni. (Isaya 52:11) Ngakho-ke, amazwi athi “bantu bami” asebenza ngokuqondile ensalini yabafundi bakaJesu Kristu abazelwe ngomoya nabagcotshiwe abasesemhlabeni. NgeMpi Yezwe I ka-1914-18, iBabiloni Elikhulu lathumba laba abagcotshiwe ngamanxusa ezwe ezombangazwe, ezempi, nawokwahlulela ukuze lenze lensali engokomoya ingasebenzi. Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, insali yaba sesimweni sokuthunjwa, yalahlekelwa inkululeko yokusebenza enkonzweni kaJehova.
9. OFakazi BakaJehova kwakumelwe baze bafike kuliphi izinga ekuphumeni kwabo eBabiloni Elikhulu?
9 KusAmbulo isahluko 17, iBabiloni Elikhulu lifanekiswa njengesifebe esikhwele isilo esinamakhanda ayisikhombisa nezimpondo eziyishumi. Lesosilo sasendle esingokomfanekiso esiya kwalasha futhi sibuye siphume sifanekisela inhlangano yosuku lwanamuhla yokuthula kwezwe, okungukuthi, iZizwe Ezihlangene, elandela iNhlangano Yezizwe eyaya kwalasha lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yezwe II. Ngakho lapho abantu bakaJehova, ababiza ngokuthi “abantu bami,” belalela ubizo lwakhe lokuba baphume eBabiloni Elikhulu, yini abayenza? Baphuma hhayi nje kuphela ngaphansi kokubusa namandla alowombuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga kodwa ngisho nangaphansi kokubusa kwabangane bayo bezombangazwe, abezombangazwe manje abazifake kuyi-UN.
10. Iyiphi inhlangano yomhlaba oFakazi BakaJehova abangahlanganyeli kuyo namuhla, futhi ngani?
10 Insali egcotshiwe iye yamukela futhi yagcina ukungathathi-hlangothi kwayo okuqinile maqondana nezindaba zombangazwe nezempi zalesimiso sezinto. (Johane 15:19) Ngobuqotho isekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu, owamiswa emazulwini ekupheleni kweZikhathi Zabezizwe ngo-1914. Ngokwedelela loMbuso, iNhlangano Yezizwe yamiswa futhi yasekelwa yiBabiloni Elikhulu ngemva kokuphela kweMpi Yezwe I ngo-1918. Kanjalo lenhlangano yezwe eyenziwe umuntu iyenyanyeka, iyazondeka kuJehova uNkulunkulu nasensalini ethembekile kaIsrayeli ongokomoya emhlabeni. Ithembela eMbusweni kaJehova ngokwawo hhayi kunoma imuphi ummeleli wayo wasemhlabeni wokuzisholo. (Mathewu 24:15, 16) Kungokufanayo ‘nangesixuku esikhulu’ sosuku lwanamuhla, esafanekiselwa amaNethini ‘nabantwana bezinceku zikaSolomoni.’—IsAmbulo 7:9-17; Ezra 2:43-58.
11. (a) Kungani kungalungile ngabafundi bakaJesu ukuba babe abangane balelizwe? (b) Isiphi isimo lelizwe elinaso koFakazi BakaJehova, kodwa baqhubeka bejabulelani?
11 Lapho uJesu esecaleni lokuphila kwakhe phambi kombusi ongumRoma uPontiyu Pilatu, wathi: “Umbuso wami awusiwo owalelizwe. Uma umbuso wami ubungowalelizwe, izikhonzi zami zaziyakulwa ukuba nginganikezelwa kubaJuda. Kepha kalokhu umbuso wami awusiwo owalapha.” (Johane 18:36) Ngakho kungaba okungalungile ngokuphelele ‘ngezikhonzi’ zikaJesu, noma abafundi, ukuba babe abangane balelizwe. Ngaphambili, uJesu wayetshele ‘izikhonzi’ zakhe zokuqala, abaphostoli abayi-11 abathembekile, ukuthi ‘babengesibo abezwe’ lelo uSathane uDeveli ‘angumbusi walo.’ (Johane 14:30; 15:19; qhathanisa neyesi-2 Korinte 4:4.) Kungalesosizathu izwe labazonda noma lalingenabungane nabo. Ngokufanayo, abafundi bakaJesu balelikhulu lama-20 bazithola besezweni elingenabungane. Noma kunjalo, bayaqhubeka bejabulela ubungane obuhle kakhulu endaweni yonke, lobo bukaNkulunkulu wezwe elilungileyo elizayo, ‘namazulu alo amasha nomhlaba omusha.’—2 Petru 3:13.
12. Uma umuntu ephuma eBabiloni Elikhulu nasemashendeni alo alelizwe, yiluphi ukuphela kohlangothi okumelwe aluthathe, futhi lokhu kuhilelani?
12 Lapho umuntu ephuma eBabiloni Elikhulu futhi esuka nakubangane balo bezwe, iBhizinisi Enkulu nakweZombangazwe nakwezeMpi, kunendawo eyodwa kuphela angaya kuyo. Okungukuthi ngasohlangothini lwenhlangano yendawo yonke kaNkulunkulu oyedwa ophilayo noweqiniso, uJehova. Ayikho indawo ephakathi. Lokhu kufuna ukuba umuntu akubekezelele ukungabi nabungane kwalelizwe, okuyisici esibangela ukuba kube nzima ngomuntu ukunquma ukuyeka iBabiloni Elikhulu nezwe eliyingxenye ebalulekile yalo.
“Igama Elisha” Elivela KuMngane Omuhle Kakhulu
13. Ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., abafundi bakaJesu babebizwa kanjani ngokuqondisa kwaphezulu?
13 Ubungane bethu obuyigugu noNkulunkulu busenza sikujabulele ukubizwa ngokuthi singoFakazi BakaJehova. Kuyiqiniso, abafundi bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala babengakalamukeli igama elithi “oFakazi BakaJehova.” Kodwa siza ucabangele ubungane babo noMngane omkhulu kunabo bonke. IzEnzo 11:26 (NW) ziyabika: “Kwaqala eAntiyokiya [eSiriya] ukuba abafundi ngokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu bathiwe amaKristu.” Uzophawula ukuthi iNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures ithi ‘ngokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu bathiwa amaKristu.’ Igama lesiHeberu elihunyushwe lapha ngokuthi “ngokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu” lisho okungaphezu nje kokubiza okungahlosiwe. UMngane omuhle kakhulu endaweni yonke walamukela lelogama elithi “amaKristu.”
14. Kungathiwani ngokuqondene negama elithi “eLobukholwa,” futhi imiphi imibuzo edinga ukucatshangelwa?
14 Egameni elithi “umKristu” kuye kwavela igama elithi eLobukholwa, elisetshenziswa kubo bonke abathi bangamaKristu namahlelo abo amaningi enkolo namasonto. Ngakho igama elithi “eLobukholwa” alinikezwanga “ngokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu,” noma ngabaphostoli noma ‘ngokuqondisa’ kwentando kaNkulunkulu. Kanjalo isimo namuhla sihluke kakhulu kuleso sekhulu lokuqala. AmaKristu oqobo kuphela angajabulela ubungane obuhle kakhulu kulelizwe elingenabungane. Ngakho umbuzo omkhulu namuhla uwukuthi, Obani abangamaKristu oqobo, eqiniso, anamathela emiBhalweni ephefumlelwe? Omunye umbuzo obalulekile uwukuthi, Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova bangamaKristu eqiniso anoJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu njengoMngane wabo? Ngokuqondene nalokhu igama likaNkulunkulu azikhethele lona, uJehova, lihilelekile.
15. Kungenxa yaziphi izimo ukuthi isikhathi sesifikile ngoJehova ukuba azenzele igama, futhi iyiphi ingxenye ‘abantu begama lakhe’ abanayo manje ngokuqondene nalokhu?
15 ELobukholwa nezinkolo zalo eziningi lingabujabulela kanjani ubungane noJehova? ELobukholwa liye laphakamisa igama likaJesu Kristu, cishe kwaze kwaba sekukhishweni kwegama likaYise wasezulwini, uJehova. Nokho, ngokuhambisana neziprofetho zeBhayibheli, isikhathi sesifikile ngoJehova ukuba azenzele igama. Ngakho-ke, igama lakhe kumelwe livelele. Maqondana nalokhu, ubeyosebenzisa ofakazi bakhe beqiniso, abantu bakhe abakhethiwe, labo abajabulela ubungane naye. Emhlanganweni okhethekile wekhulu lokuqala owenziwa abaphostoli nabanye abalandeli ababalulekile bakaJesu Kristu, umfundi uJakobe wathi: “USimeyoni uselandile ngokuhlela kukaNkulunkulu ekuqaleni ukuba athathele igama lakhe isizwe kubo abezizwe.”—IzEnzo 15:14.
16, 17. Yini eye yenziwa ngegama likaNkulunkulu ezinguqulweni zamaBhayibheli zeLobukholwa, kodwa yini eyiqiniso ngeNew World Translation ngokuqondene nalokhu?
16 Kumelwe kulindeleke ukuba ‘abantu begama likaNkulunkulu’ babe abangane bakhe futhi baphakamise lelogama laphezulu. Kodwa yini eye yenzeka kweLobukholwa? Ezinguqulweni zalo zeBhayibheli ezidumile, igama likaJehova liye lasithibezwa isiqu. Phela, igama lakhe litholakala kuphela izikhathi ezine enguqulweni edume kakhulu yesiNgisi yanamuhla! (Eksodusi 6:3; IHubo 83:18; Isaya 12:2; 26:4, King James Version) Ngokungaphezulu, ngisho nasezinguqulweni zesiJuda zemiBhalo yamaHeberu, igama likaNkulunkulu liye lahunyushwa ngokuthi “iNkosi.” Umzamo onjalo wokufihla igama likaJehova awuwona umsebenzi wabangane bakhe.
17 Nokho ngonyaka ka-1950, iNew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures yaqala ukuvela kwezenkolo, futhi iye yaveza igama likaNkulunkulu ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho livela khona embhalweni wokuqala weBhayibheli wesiHeberu. INew World Translation of the Holy Scriptures iye yabuyisela futhi igama likaNkulunkulu endaweni yalo efanele emibhalweni eyinhloko yemiBhalo yamaKristu yesiGreki, ebizwa ngokuthi iTestamente Elisha—yebo, izikhathi ezingama-237. Lona umsebenzi wabangane bakaJehova.
18. Ngomoya kaIsaya 62:2, isiphi isinyathelo abantu bakaNkulunkulu abasithatha ngo-1931, futhi imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo abebewufeza?
18 Okuthakazelisayo kubangane bakaJehova amazwi akuIsaya 62:2. Lelivesi, elibhekiswe enhlanganweni ebonakalayo kaNkulunkulu yabafundi bakaMesiya abazinikezele babhapathizwa, nabazelwe ngomoya, lifundeka kanje: “Izizwe ziyakubona ukulunga kwakho, namakhosi onke inkazimulo yakho; uyakubizwa ngegama elisha eliyakunqunywa ngumlomo kaJehova.” ‘Lelogama’ libhekisela esimweni esibusisiwe abafundi abagcotshiwe bosuku lwanamuhla abaye bahlanganiselwa kuso. Ngokungaphezulu, ukuze ibe ‘abantu begama likaNkulunkulu,’ insali yamalungu enhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo ngokufanelekile kumelwe ibizwe ngegama lakhe, kumelwe isebenzise lelogama. Leliqiniso laqashelwa ngesikhathi esifanele. Ngakho, ngomoya kaIsaya 62:2, inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ezelwe ngomoya, eyayihlangene emhlanganweni eColumbus, eOhio, ngo-1931, ngenjabulo yamukela igama “Ofakazi bakaJehova.” Elandela lesosibonelo, wonke amabandla abantu bakaJehova abazinikezele alamukela lelogama. Futhi lelogama liye lagxila kungakhathaliseki izibikezelo zezwe eziphambene nalokho. KusAmbulo 3:14 uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe wazibiza ngokuthi “ufakazi othembekayo noqinisileyo.” Khona-ke, ngokufanelekile, kusukela kulowonyaka okhumbulekayo ku-1931 kuye phambili, amabandla abafundi bakhe emhlabeni ngokuhlakanipha aye amukela lelogama. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi, aye azama ukufeza umthwalo wawo wemfanelo wokuba ahambe ngalelogama futhi alenze laziwe. Kanjalo, igama likaJehova—igama elimsulwa loMngane wabo omuhle kakhulu—liye laphakanyiswa kuwo wonke umhlaba. Futhi uJehova uye wanikeza ubufakazi obuvelele bokuthi ubungane bakhe nofakazi bakhe buye baphikelela kuze kube kulolusuku.
19. (a) Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova abazinikezele bengakwesabi ukungabi nabungane kwalelizwe, futhi abagcina ubuqotho bayovuzwa ngaliphi ilungelo eHarmagedoni? (b) Ukubonga kwethu nodumo kumelwe kuye kuJehova ngenxa yayiphi imfanelo?
19 Njengoba uJehova uNkulunkulu ungakithi njengofakazi bakhe abazinikezele, ubani ngempela ongamelana nathi futhi aphumelele? (Roma 8:31-34) Ngakho asikwesabi ukungabi nabungane kwalelizwe eliyisitha. Kungakho siqhubeka njengamanxusa noma njengezithunywa zoMbuso wobuMesiya, sibiza abantu abanjengezimvu ukuba babuyisane noJehova uNkulunkulu ngomPristi wakhe Omkhulu noyinkosi uJesu Kristu. (2 Korinte 5:20) Nakuba ngalesizathu ubutha balelizwe buqhubeka bukhula ensalini egcotshiwe nabangane bayo, “besixuku esikhulu,” ubungane obuhle kakhulu endaweni yonke, bukaJehova uNkulunkulu, ngokwethembeka buyaqhubeka buphikelela. (IsAmbulo 7:9) Ngeke banqamuka ngakithi njengabagcina ubuqotho kuye. Eqinisweni, ngokushesha, ngesikhathi esifanele, lobobungane buyoboniswa phakathi naleyompi enkulu, “ekulweni kosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke,” eHarmagedoni. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Lapho, ebhekene ubuso nobuso noSathane uDeveli noquqaba lwamademoni akhe nayo yonke inhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo yasemhlabeni, uJehova uyolwela ubukhosi baKhe bendawo yonke ngokunqoba kwaKhe okukhulu okungazange kwenzeke. Thina, esiye saba nobungane obuhle kakhulu noJehova kuze kube manje, ngalesosikhathi siyoba nelungelo lokusindiswa nelokuba ofakazi bokuzibonela ukunqoba kwakhe okukhulu ngeNkosi enqobayo, uJesu Kristu. (IHubo 110:1, 2; Isaya 66:23, 24) Konke ukubonga kwethu okusuka enhliziyweni nodumo kuya kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngobungane bakhe obuhlala njalo!—IHubo 136:1-26.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ UJesu wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba benze buphi ubungane, futhi kukuziphi ‘izindlu zaphakade’ abangafakwa kuzo?
◻ Isiphi isimo lelizwe elinaso koFakazi BakaJehova, kodwa yibuphi ubungane abaqhubeka bebujabulela?
◻ ‘Abantu begama likaNkulunkulu’ bebefeza muphi umthwalo wemfanelo ngokuqondene negama lakhe?
◻ Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova abazinikezele bengakwesabi ukungabi nabungane kwalelizwe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
UZakewu wafakwa ebunganeni obuhle kakhulu endaweni yonke. Ingabe kuye kwaba njalo nangawe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Bejabula ekubeni noNkulunkulu njengoMngane wabo omuhle kakhulu, ngo-1931 oFakazi BakaJehova bazimisela ukwaziwa ngegama lakhe elingenakulinganiswa