Ithemba Lovuko Liqinisekile!
“Nginethemba kuNkulunkulu . . . lokuthi luyoba khona uvuko.”—IZENZO 24:15.
1. Kungani singathembela ovukweni?
UJEHOVA usinike izizathu ezizwakalayo zokuba nethemba ovukweni. Usiqinisekisa ukuthi abafileyo bayovuka, baphinde baphile. Futhi injongo yakhe mayelana nabalele ekufeni iyofezeka nakanjani. (Isaya 55:11; Luka 18:27) Eqinisweni, uNkulunkulu usewabonisile kakade amandla akhe okuvusa abafileyo.
2. Ithemba lovuko lingasizuzisa kanjani?
2 Ukholo elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu lokuvusa abafileyo ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, lungasiqinisa lapho sicindezelekile. Ukuqiniseka kwethemba lovuko kungasisiza futhi siqhubeke siqotho kuBaba wethu wasezulwini ngisho noma sibhekene nokufa. Cishe, ithemba lethu lovuko lizoqina njengoba sibukeza ukulandisa okuseBhayibhelini ngabathile abavuselwa ekuphileni. Zonke lezi zimangaliso zafezwa ngamandla avela eNkosini EnguMbusi, uJehova.
Bamukela Abafileyo Babo Ngovuko
3. U-Eliya wanikwa amandla okwenzani lapho kufa indodana yomfelokazi waseSarefati?
3 Ekulandiseni kwakhe okuvusa amadlingozi ngokholo olwaboniswa ofakazi bakaJehova bangaphambi kobuKristu, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Abesifazane bamukela abafileyo babo ngovuko.” (Heberu 11:35; 12:1) Omunye walabo besifazane kwakungumfelokazi ompofu wasemzini waseSarefati, eFenike. Ngenxa yokuthi wamukela umprofethi kaNkulunkulu u-Eliya ngezandla ezifudumele, ufulawa namafutha akhe kwenziwa ngokuyisimangaliso ukuba kungapheli phakathi nendlala eyayiyombulala kanye nendodana yakhe. Lapho ingane yakhe ifa kamuva, u-Eliya wayilalisa embhedeni, wathandaza, wazelulela phezu komfana kathathu, wayesenxusa: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, umphefumulo walo mntwana mawubuyele kuye.” UNkulunkulu wabangela umphefumulo, noma ukuphila, ukuba kubuyele kumfana. (1 AmaKhosi 17:8-24) Cabanga nje ngenjabulo yalowo mfelokazi lapho ukholo lwakhe luvuzwa ngovuko lokuqala ngqá olulotshiwe—lwendodana yakhe uqobo!
4. Yisiphi isimangaliso esenziwa ngu-Elisha eShunemi?
4 Omunye wesifazane owamukela ofileyo wakhe ngovuko wayehlala emzaneni waseShunemi. Le nkosikazi yendoda eyayisikhulile yabonisa umusa kumprofethi u-Elisha nenceku yakhe. Yavuzwa ngendodana. Nokho, ngemva kweminyaka ethile, yabiza umprofethi, owafike wathola umfana efile kubo. Ngemva kokuba u-Elisha ethandazile futhi wenza okuthile, “inyama yomntwana yafudumala.” “Wathimula kasikhombisa; umntwana wavula amehlo akhe.” Akungabazeki ukuthi lolu vuko lwabajabulisa kakhulu bobabili, umama nendodana yakhe. (2 AmaKhosi 4:8-37; 8:1-6) Kodwa yeka ukuthi bayojabula nakakhulu kanjani lapho bevuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni ‘ovukweni olungcono’—oluyobanika ithuba lokuba bangaphinde bafe! Yeka isizathu sokumbonga uNkulunkulu wovuko onothando, uJehova!—Heberu 11:35.
5. U-Elisha wahlanganyela kanjani esimangalisweni ngisho nalapho esefile?
5 Ngisho nangemva kokuba u-Elisha efile futhi wangcwatshwa, uNkulunkulu wenza amathambo akhe aba namandla ngomoya ongcwele. Siyafunda: “Kwathi lapho [abantu abathile bakwa-Israyeli] besammbela umuntu othile, bheka, babona iviyo [lakwaMowabi]; bamlahla umuntu ethuneni lika-Elisha. Lowo muntu [ofile] wanele ukuthinta nje amathambo ka-Elisha, waphila, wema ngezinyawo zakhe.” (2 AmaKhosi 13:20, 21) Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba lowo muntu wayemangele futhi ejabule ngayo! Cabanga ngenjabulo eyoba khona lapho abantu esibathandayo bevuselwa ekuphileni ngokuvumelana nenjongo kaJehova uNkulunkulu engabhuntshi!
INdodana KaNkulunkulu Yavusa Abafileyo
6. Yisiphi isimangaliso uJesu asenza eduze komuzi waseNayini, futhi lesi senzakalo singase sisithinte kanjani thina?
6 INdodana kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, iye yasinika izizathu ezizwakalayo zokukholelwa ukuthi abafileyo bangavuswa, babe nethemba lokuphila phakade. Isenzakalo saseduze komuzi waseNayini singasisiza sibone ukuthi isimangaliso esinjalo singenzeka ngamandla avela kuNkulunkulu. Ngesinye isikhathi, uJesu wahlangana nabantu abalilayo bethwele isidumbu sensizwa ethile bephuma emzini beyosingcwaba. Yayiwukuphela kwengane umfelokazi othile ayenayo. UJesu wathi kuye: “Yeka ukukhala.” Wabe esethinta uhlaka ethi: “Nsizwa, ngithi kuwe, Vuka!” Lapho esho njalo, insizwa yavuka yahlala futhi yakhuluma. (Luka 7:11-15) Ngokuqinisekile lesi simangaliso sisenza siqiniseke nakakhulu ukuthi ithemba lovuko liqinisekile.
7. Kwenzekani ngokuphathelene nendodakazi kaJayiru?
7 Cabanga nangesenzakalo esihilela uJayiru, isikhulu esasengamele esinagogeni eKapernawume. Wacela uJesu ukuba azosiza indodakazi yakhe eneminyaka engu-12 ubudala, eyayibangwa nezibi. Ngokushesha kwabikwa ukuthi intombazane yayisifile. Enxusa uJayiru owayelusizi ukuba abonise ukholo, uJesu wahamba naye baya kwakhe, lapho kwakukhona khona isixuku esasikhala. Lesi sixuku sahleka lapho uJesu ethi: “Umntwana omncane akafile, kodwa ulele.” Wayefile ngempela, kodwa uJesu wayesezobonisa ukuthi abantu bangavuselwa ekuphileni njengoba nje bengavuswa ebuthongweni obunzima. Ebamba intombazane ngesandla, wathi: “Ntombazane, Vuka!” Yavuka ngaso leso sikhathi, futhi “abazali bayo babejabule ngokudlulele.” (Marku 5:35-43; Luka 8:49-56) Akungabazeki ukuthi imikhaya ‘iyojabula ngokudlulele’ lapho abantu ebathandayo abebefile bevuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni oyipharadesi.
8. UJesu wenzani ethuneni likaLazaru?
8 ULazaru wayesenezinsuku ezine efile lapho uJesu efika ethuneni lakhe futhi eyala ukuba kususwe itshe elalivalile. Ngemva kokuthandaza obala ukuze ababebukele bazi ukuthi wayencike emandleni avela kuNkulunkulu, uJesu wakhamuluka wathi: “Lazaru, phuma!” Waphuma ngempela! Izandla nezinyawo zakhe zazisaboshwe ngezindwangu zokungcwaba, nobuso bakhe bumbozwe ngendwangu. “Mthukululeni nimyeke ahambe,” kusho uJesu. Lapho bebona lesi simangaliso, abaningi ababezoduduza odadewabo kaLazaru, uMariya noMarta, baba nokholo kuJesu. (Johane 11:1-45) Ingabe le ndaba ayikwenzi ube nethemba lokuthi abantu obathandayo bangase bavuselwe ekuphileni ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
9. Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi uJesu angabavusa namanje abafileyo?
9 Lapho uJohane uMbhapathizi esejele, uJesu wamthumelela lo myalezo omisa isibindi: “Izimpumputhe ziyabona futhi, . . . nabafileyo bayavuswa.” (Mathewu 11:4-6) Njengoba uJesu abavusa abafileyo lapho esemhlabeni, nakanjani angakwenza lokho njengesidalwa somoya esinamandla avela kuNkulunkulu. UJesu ‘uwukuvuka nokuphila,’ futhi yeka indlela okududuza ngayo ukwazi ukuthi maduze nje “bonke abasemathuneni ayisikhumbuzo [bazokuzwa izwi lakhe] futhi baphume”!—Johane 5:28, 29; 11:25.
Olunye Uvuko Oluqinisa Ithemba Lethu
10. Ungaluchaza kanjani uvuko lokuqala olulotshiwe olwenziwa umphostoli?
10 Lapho uJesu ethuma abaphostoli bakhe ukuba babe abashumayeli boMbuso, wathi: “Nivuse abantu abafileyo.” (Mathewu 10:5-8) Yiqiniso, ukuze benze lokhu, kwakudingeka bathembele emandleni kaNkulunkulu. EJopha ngo-36 C.E., kwashona owesifazane owayehlonipha uNkulunkulu, uDorka (uThabitha). Izenzo zakhe ezinhle zazihlanganise ukwenzela abafelokazi abaswele izingubo, futhi bakhala kakhulu lapho efa. Abafundi bamlungiselela ukuba angcwatshwe base bethumela ukuba kuyobizwa umphostoli uPetru, mhlawumbe ukuze azoduduza. (IzEnzo 9:32-38) Wakhipha wonke umuntu ekamelweni eliphezulu, wathandaza, wayesethi: “Thabitha, vuka!” UDorka wavula amehlo, wahlala, wabamba isandla sikaPetru, uPetru wayesemphakamisa. Lolu vuko lokuqala olulotshiwe olwenziwa umphostoli lwenza abaningi ukuba babe amakholwa. (IzEnzo 9:39-42) Futhi lusinika isizathu esinamandla nakakhulu sokwethembela ovukweni.
11. Yiluphi uvuko lokugcina oluseBhayibhelini?
11 Uvuko lokugcina oluseBhayibhelini lwenzeka eTrowa. Lapho uPawulu ema lapho ohambweni lwakhe lwesithathu njengesithunywa sevangeli, welula inkulumo yakhe kwaze kwaba phakathi kwamabili. Lapho isinqotshwe ukukhathala mhlawumbe nawukushisa kwezibani eziningi nokuminyana kwabantu kule ndawo yokuhlangana, insizwa okuthiwa u-Evitiku yazunywa ubuthongo yawa isuka efasiteleni elisesitezi sesithathu. “Yathathwa isifile,” kungekhona ukuthi yayiqulekile njé. UPawulu waziphonsa phezu kuka-Evitiku, wamsingatha, wayesethi kwababebukele: “Yekani ukubanga umsindo, ngoba umphefumulo wakhe ukuye.” UPawulu wayesho ukuthi le nsizwa yayisiphila futhi. Ababekhona “baduduzeka ngokudlulele.” (IzEnzo 20:7-12) Namuhla, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziduduzeka kakhulu ngokwazi ukuthi leli themba lovuko liyogcwaliseka kubangane bazo ababekhonza nazo uNkulunkulu.
Uvuko—Ithemba Osekukudala Laba Khona
12. Lapho ephambi koMbusi wamaRoma uFeliksi, yini uPawulu athi wayeqiniseka ngayo?
12 Lapho kuqulwa icala lakhe phambi kombusi wamaRoma uFeliksi, uPawulu wafakaza: “Ngikholelwa zonke izinto ezibekwe eMthethweni nezilotshwe kubaProfethi; futhi nginethemba kuNkulunkulu . . . lokuthi luyoba khona uvuko kokubili olwabalungileyo nabangalungile.” (IzEnzo 24:14, 15) Izingxenye zeZwi likaNkulunkulu, ‘ezinjengoMthetho,’ zikhuluma kanjani ngokuvuswa kwabafileyo?
13. Kungani kungase kuthiwe uNkulunkulu wasikisela uvuko lapho esho isiprofetho sokuqala?
13 UNkulunkulu ngokwakhe wasikisela uvuko lapho esho isiprofetho sokuqala e-Edene. Lapho egweba “inyoka yokuqala,” uSathane uDeveli, uNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.” (IsAmbulo 12:9; Genesise 3:14, 15) Ukulimaza isithende senzalo yowesifazane kwakusho ukubulawa kukaJesu Kristu. Ukuze leyo Nzalo ichoboze ikhanda lenyoka kamuva, uKristu kwakuyodingeka avuswe kwabafileyo.
14. Kungani kuthiwa uJehova “unguNkulunkulu, wabaphilayo, hhayi owabafileyo”?
14 UJesu wathi: “Ukuthi abafileyo bayavuswa ngisho noMose wakwambula, endabeni ephathelene nesihlahla somunga, lapho ebiza uJehova ngokuthi ‘uNkulunkulu ka-Abrahama noNkulunkulu ka-Isaka noNkulunkulu kaJakobe.’ UnguNkulunkulu, wabaphilayo, hhayi owabafileyo, ngoba bonke bayaphila kuye.” (Luka 20:27, 37, 38; Eksodusi 3:6) U-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe babefile, kodwa injongo kaNkulunkulu yokubavusa yayizogcwaliseka nakanjani, kangangokuthi kuJesu kwakufana nokuthi bayaphila.
15. Kungani u-Abrahama ayenesizathu sokukholelwa ovukweni?
15 U-Abrahama wayenesizathu sokwethembela ovukweni, ngoba lapho yena nomkakhe, uSara, sebebadala kakhulu futhi sebefile ngokuphathelene nokuba nabantwana, uNkulunkulu wavuselela ngokuyisimangaliso amandla abo okuzala. Lokhu kwakunjengovuko. (Genesise 18:9-11; 21:1-3; Heberu 11:11, 12) Lapho indodana yabo, u-Isaka, isineminyaka engaba ngu-25 ubudala, uNkulunkulu watshela u-Abrahama ukuba ayenze umhlatshelo. Nokho, lapho nje u-Abrahama esezombulala u-Isaka, ingelosi kaJehova yamnqanda. U-Abrahama wayezitshele ukuthi “uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukumvusa [u-Isaka] ngisho nakwabafileyo; futhi ngempela wamamukela evela lapho ngendlela engokomfanekiso.”—Heberu 11:17-19; Genesise 22:1-18.
16. Yini u-Abrahama ayilindele njengoba elele ekufeni manje?
16 U-Abrahama wayenethemba lokuvuswa ngaphansi kokubusa kukaMesiya, iNzalo ethenjisiwe. Ingakabi ngumuntu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yaluphawula ukholo luka-Abrahama. Ngakho-ke, lapho isingumuntu onguJesu Kristu yatshela amaJuda: “U-Abrahama uyihlo wajabula kakhulu ngethemba lokubona usuku lwami, futhi walubona wajabula.” (Johane 8:56-58; IzAga 8:30, 31) U-Abrahama manje ulele ekufeni, ulindele ukuvuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni ngaphansi koMbuso kaMesiya kaNkulunkulu.—Heberu 11:8-10, 13.
Ubufakazi Obuvela EMthethweni NasemaHubweni
17. “Izinto ezibekwe eMthethweni” zikhuluma kanjani ngokuvuswa kukaJesu Kristu?
17 Ithemba lovuko likaPawulu lalivumelana ‘nezinto ezibekwe eMthethweni.’ UNkulunkulu watshela ama-Israyeli: “Anoletha kumpristi isithungu solibo lwesivuno senu; yena asizulise [ngo-Nisan 16] isithungu phambi kukaJehova ukuba samukelwe ngenxa yenu.” (Levitikusi 23:9-14) Mhlawumbe wayecabanga ngalo mthetho uPawulu lapho ebhala: “UKristu uvusiwe kwabafileyo, ulibo lwalabo abalele ekufeni.” ‘Njengolibo,’ uJesu wavuswa ngo-Nisan 16, 33 C.E. Kamuva, phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe, kwakuyoba novuko ‘lwabayizithelo zamuva’—abalandeli bakhe abagcotshwe ngomoya.—1 Korinte 15:20-23; 2 Korinte 1:21; 1 Johane 2:20, 27.
18. UPetru wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uvuko lukaJesu lwalubikezelwe emaHubweni?
18 AmaHubo nawo ayalusekela uvuko. Ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., umphostoli uPetru wacaphuna amaHubo 16:8-11, ethi: “UDavide uthi ngokuqondene [noKristu], ‘NganginoJehova njalo phambi kwamehlo ami; ngoba ungakwesokunene sami ukuze ngingalokothi nginyakaziswe. Ngenxa yalokhu inhliziyo yami yenama nolimi lwami lwajabula kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngisho nenyama yami iyohlala isethembeni; ngoba ngeke ushiye umphefumulo wami eHayidese, futhi ngeke uvumele othembekileyo wakho ukuba abone ukonakala.’” UPetru wanezela: “[UDavide] wabona kusengaphambili futhi wakhuluma ngokuphathelene nokuvuka kukaKristu, ukuthi akashiywanga eHayidese futhi inyama yakhe ayikubonanga ukonakala. LoJesu uNkulunkulu wamvusa.”—IzEnzo 2:25-32.
19, 20. UPetru wawacaphuna nini amaHubo 118:22, futhi lokhu kwakuhlobene kanjani nokufa nokuvuka kukaJesu?
19 Ngemva kwezinsuku ezithile, uPetru wama phambi kweSanhedrini waphinda wacaphuna amaHubo. Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi wayesiphulukise kanjani isinxibi esiyisishosha, umphostoli wathi: “Makwazeke kini nonke nakubo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli, ukuthi ngegama likaJesu Kristu umNazaretha, enambethela kodwa uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo, kungaye lendoda imi lapha iphilile phambi kwenu. [UJesu] lona ‘uyitshe nina bakhi enaliphatha njengelingento yalutho eseliyinhloko yegumbi.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, ayikho insindiso kunoma ubani omunye, ngoba alikho elinye igama ngaphansi kwezulu elinikwe phakathi kwabantu okumelwe sisindiswe ngalo.”—IzEnzo 4:10-12.
20 UPetru lapha wacaphuna amaHubo 118:22, wawabhekisela ekufeni nasekuvukeni kukaJesu. Egqugquzelwa abaholi bawo benkolo, amaJuda amenqaba uJesu. (Johane 19:14-18; IzEnzo 3:14, 15) ‘Ukwenqaba kwabakhi itshe’ kwaphumela ekufeni kukaKristu, kodwa ‘ukuba kwetshe yinhloko yegumbi’ kwakusho ukuvuselwa kwakhe enkazimulweni yomoya ezulwini. Njengoba umhubi abikezela, ‘lona lavela kuJehova uqobo.’ (IHubo 118:23) Ukwenza “itshe” libe yiNhloko yegumbi kwahlanganisa nokumphakamisa njengeNkosi Emisiwe.—Efesu 1:19, 20.
Wasekelwa Yithemba Lovuko
21, 22. UJobe wathi wayenaliphi ithemba, njengoba kulotshwe kuJobe 14:13-15, futhi lokhu kungabaduduza kanjani abashonelwe namuhla?
21 Nakuba singakaze sizibonele ngawethu umuntu evuswa kwabafileyo, siye saphawula ukulandisa okuthile okusemiBhalweni okusiqinisekisayo ngovuko. Ngakho-ke, singaba nethemba elashiwo yindoda eqotho uJobe. Lapho esosizini, wanxusa: “Sengathi ungangifihla endaweni yabafileyo [Jehova], . . . unginqumele isikhathi, ungikhumbule. Uma umuntu efa, uyakubuye aphile na? . . . Ubuyakubiza, mina ngiphendule; ubuyakulangazelela umsebenzi wezandla zakho.” (Jobe 14:13-15) UNkulunkulu ‘uyolangazelela umsebenzi wezandla zakhe,’ enesifiso esijulile sokuvusa uJobe. Yeka ithemba okusinika lona lokho!
22 Kungase kwenzeke ilungu lomkhaya elesaba uNkulunkulu ligule kakhulu, njengoba kwenzeka kuJobe, futhi mhlawumbe lize linqotshwe yisitha esiwukufa. Abashonelwe bangase bakhale ngenxa yokudabuka, njengoba noJesu akhala lapho kufe uLazaru. (Johane 11:35) Kodwa yeka indlela okududuza ngayo ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyobabiza labo abasenkumbulweni yakhe futhi baphendule! Kuyoba sengathi babuya ohambweni—bengaguli futhi bengakhubazekile, bephila saká.
23. Abanye baye bakuveza kanjani ukuqiniseka kwabo ngethemba lovuko?
23 Ukushona komKristu owayethembekile nowayesekhulile kwashukumisa abakholwa naye ukuba babhale bathi: “Siyakuzwela kakhulu ngokushonelwa umama. Ngemva kwesikhashana nje sizophinde simamukele—emuhle futhi enobungqabavu!” Abazali abashonelwa yindodana bathi: “Asive silulangazela usuku uJason ayovuka ngalo! Uyoqalaza abone iPharadesi ayelokhu elilindele ngabomvu. . . . Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuyisisusa esinamandla kanjani kithi esasimthanda sokuba nathi sibe khona.” Yebo, yeka indlela esingabonga ngayo ngokuthi ithemba lovuko liqinisekile!
Ithini Impendulo Yakho?
• Ukholo elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu lokuvusa abafileyo lungasizuzisa kanjani?
• Yiziphi izenzakalo ezilotshwe emiBhalweni ezisinika isizathu sokuthembela ovukweni?
• Kungani kungathiwa uvuko luyithemba osekukudala likhona?
• Yiliphi ithemba eliqinisayo esingaba nalo ngokuphathelene nabafileyo?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Ngamandla avela kuJehova, u-Eliya wavusa indodana yomfelokazi
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
Lapho uJesu evusa indodakazi kaJayiru, abazali bayo bajabula ngokwedlulele
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., umphostoli uPetru wafakaza ngesibindi ukuthi uJesu wayevusiwe kwabafileyo