Hamba Ngokholo, Hhayi Ngokubona!
“Sihamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona.”—2 KORINTE 5:7.
1. Yini ebonisa ukuthi umphostoli uPawulu wayehamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona?
NGUNYAKA ka-55 C.E. Sekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-20 indoda eyayibizwa ngokuthi uSawulu, umshushisi wamaKristu, yamukela ubuKristu. Ayizange ivumele ukuhamba kwesikhathi kulunciphise noma kulwenze buthaka ukholo lwayo kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba ingazibonanga ngamehlo enyama izinto ezingokoqobo ezisezulwini, inokholo oluqinile. Ngakho, lapho umphostoli uPawulu ebhalela amaKristu agcotshiwe, ayenethemba lasezulwini, wathi: “Sihamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona.”—2 Korinte 5:7.
2, 3. (a) Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi sihamba ngokholo? (b) Kusho ukuthini ukuhamba ngokubona?
2 Ukuze sihambe ngokholo kudingeka simethembe ngokuphelele uNkulunkulu ukuthi uyakwazi ukuqondisa ukuphila kwethu. Kumelwe siqiniseke ngokugcwele ukuthi uyakwazi ngempela okuyosizuzisa kakhulu. (IHubo 119:66) Njengoba senza izinqumo ekuphileni bese sizifeza, siyacabanga ‘ngezinto ezingokoqobo esingaziboni.’ (Hebheru 11:1, The New English Bible) Lezi zinto zihlanganisa “amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha” okuthenjisiwe. (2 Petru 3:13) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukuhamba ngokubona kusho ukuphishekela inkambo yokuphila elawulwa kuphela yilokho esikubona ngamehlo. Lokhu kuyingozi ngoba kungasenza siyishaye indiva ngokuphelele intando kaNkulunkulu.—IHubo 81:12; UmShumayeli 11:9.
3 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ‘singabomhlambi omncane,’ onobizo lwasezulwini, noma ‘singabezinye izimvu,’ ezinethemba lasemhlabeni, ngamunye wethu kufanele asilalelisise isiyalo sokuhamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona. (Luka 12:32; Johane 10:16) Ake sibone ukuthi ukusebenzisa lesi seluleko esiphefumulelwe kuyosivikela kanjani ekubanjweni ugibe ‘lokujabula isikhashana esonweni’ nolokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, nasekulahlekelweni umbono wokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto. Sizohlola nezingozi zokuhamba ngokubona.—Hebheru 11:25.
Ukwenqaba ‘Ukujabula Isikhashana Esonweni’
4. UMose wakhethani, futhi ngani?
4 Cabanga indlela uMose, indodana ka-Amramu, ayengaphila ngayo. Njengoba ayekhule nezingane zasebukhosini eGibhithe lasendulo, wayengathola amandla, ingcebo, negunya. Wayengase acabange: ‘Ngifunde konke ukuhlakanipha okubatshazwayo kwabaseGibhithe, futhi nginamandla ngamazwi nangezenzo. Uma ngiqhubeka ngisendlini yasebukhosini, ngizokwazi ukusebenzisa isikhundla sami ukuze ngisize amaHebheru akithi acindezelwe!’ (IzEnzo 7:22) Kunalokho, uMose wakhetha “ukuphathwa kabi nabantu bakaNkulunkulu.” Ngani? Yini eyashukumisela uMose ukuba akufulathele konke ayengase akuthole eGibhithe? IBhayibheli liyaphendula: “Ngokholo [uMose] washiya iGibhithe, kodwa engayesabi intukuthelo yenkosi, ngoba waqhubeka egxilile sengathi uyambona Lowo ongabonakali.” (Hebheru 11:24-27) Ukholo lukaMose lokuthi uJehova uyakuvuza nakanjani ukulunga lwamsiza ukuba amelane nesono, ukuzitika nenjabulo edlulayo.
5. Isibonelo sikaMose sisikhuthaza kanjani?
5 Nathi kuye kudingeke senze izinqumo ezinzima ezindabeni ezinjengalezi: ‘Ngiyiyeke yini imikhuba ethile engavumelani ngokugcwele nezimiso zeBhayibheli? Ngiwuthathe yini umsebenzi obonakala uzongizuzisa ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo kodwa ozophazamisa intuthuko yami engokomoya?’ Isibonelo sikaMose sisikhuthaza ukuba singakhethi izinto ezibonisa ukuthi sikhathalela izinzuzo zamanje njengaleli zwe; kunalokho, kufanele sibe nokholo ekuhlakanipheni okucabangela imiphumela yesikhathi eside ‘kwaLowo ongabonakali’—uJehova uNkulunkulu. NjengoMose, kwangathi ubungane bethu noJehova singabazisa ngaphezu kwanoma yini leli zwe elingasinika yona.
6, 7. (a) U-Esawu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayekhetha ukuhamba ngokubona? (b) Isiphi isibonelo esiyisixwayiso esisithola ku-Esawu?
6 Bheka umehluko phakathi kukaMose no-Esawu, indodana yenzalamizi u-Isaka. U-Esawu wakhetha ukuzanelisa ngaleso sikhathi. (Genesise 25:30-34) ‘Engazazisi izinto ezingcwele,’ u-Esawu waphana ngamalungelo akhe obuzibulo “ewenana ngesidlo esisodwa.” (Hebheru 12:16) Akazange acabange ukuthi isinqumo sakhe sokuthengisa ubuzibulo bakhe siyobuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova noma ukuthi isenzo sakhe siyoyithinta kanjani inzalo yakhe. Wayengenawo umbono ongokomoya. U-Esawu wazishaya indiva izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu eziyigugu, wazibheka njengeziyize. Wahamba ngokubona, hhayi ngokholo.
7 U-Esawu uyisibonelo esiyisixwayiso kithi namuhla. (1 Korinte 10:11) Lapho kudingeka senze izinqumo, ezinkulu noma ezincane, akumelwe siyengwe inkulumo-ze yezwe likaSathane, ethi kumelwe ukuthole manje lokho okufunayo. Kuhle sizibuze: ‘Ingabe izinqumo engizenzayo zibonisa ukuthambekela okunjengokuka-Esawu? Ingabe ukuphishekela lokho engikufuna manje kungasho ukubeka izithakazelo ezingokomoya endaweni yesibili? Ingabe izinto engizikhethayo zibubeka engozini ubungane bami noNkulunkulu kanye nomvuzo wami wesikhathi esizayo? Sibonelo sini engisibekela abanye?’ Uma lokho esikukhethayo kubonisa ukuthi siyazazisa izinto ezingokomoya, uJehova uyosibusisa.—IzAga 10:22.
Ukugwema Ugibe Lokuthanda Izinto Ezibonakalayo
8. Isiphi isixwayiso amaKristu aseLawodikeya asithola, futhi kungani sisithakazelisa?
8 Esambulweni umphostoli uJohane asithola ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala, uJesu Kristu okhazinyulisiwe wadlulisela umyalezo ebandleni elaliseLawodikeya, e-Asia Minor. Kwakuwumyalezo oxwayisa ngokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo. Nakuba ayecebile ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, amaKristu aseLawodikeya ayempofu ngokomoya. Kunokuba aqhubeke ehamba ngokholo, avumela izinto ezibonakalayo ukuba ziwaphuphuthekise ngokomoya. (IsAmbulo 3:14-18) Ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kunomphumela ofanayo namuhla. Kwenza ukholo lwethu lube buthaka futhi kusenze siyeke ‘ukuwugijima ngokukhuthazela umncintiswano’ wokuphila. (Hebheru 12:1) Uma singaqaphile, ‘injabulo yalokhu kuphila’ ingathatha indawo yezinto ezingokomoya zize ‘ziminyaniswe ngokuphelele.’—Luka 8:14.
9. Ukwaneliswa ukudla okungokomoya nokukwazisa kusivikela kanjani?
9 Isihluthulelo sokuvikeleka ngokomoya siwukwaneliswa kunokusebenzisa leli zwe ngokugcwele nokuzicebisa ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. (1 Korinte 7:31; 1 Thimothewu 6:6-8) Lapho sihamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona, siyalijabulela ipharadesi elingokomoya lamanje. Njengoba sidla ukudla okungokomoya okunomsoco, asishukumiseleki yini ukuba ‘sikhamuluke ngenjabulo ngenxa yesimo esihle senhliziyo’? (Isaya 65:13, 14) Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyabujabulela ubudlelwane balabo ababonisa izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo ukuba sithole ukwaneliseka nokuqabuleka ezintweni ezingokomoya uJehova azinikezayo!
10. Imiphi imibuzo okungakuhle sizibuze yona?
10 Eminye yemibuzo okungakuhle sizibuze yona yilena: ‘Izinto ezibonakalayo ngizibona zibaluleke kangakanani ekuphileni kwami? Ingabe lezo enginazo ngizisebenzisela ukuphila ukuphila okugcwele injabulo noma ukuthuthukisa ukukhulekela kweqiniso? Yini engilethela ukwaneliseka okukhulu? Yizimpelasonto ezingahileli imisebenzi yobuKristu noma ukutadisha iBhayibheli nobudlelwane basemihlanganweni yobuKristu? Ingabe ngihlela izimpelasonto eziningi zokuzilibazisa kunokuba leso sikhathi ngisisebenzisele inkonzo yasensimini neminye imisebenzi ehlobene nokukhulekela okuhlanzekile?’ Ukuhamba ngokholo kusho ukuhlala simatasa emsebenzini woMbuso, sizethemba ngokugcwele izithembiso zikaJehova.—1 Korinte 15:58.
Ukuhlale Sikhumbula Ukuthi Ukuphela Kuseduze
11. Ukuhamba ngokholo kusisiza kanjani ukuba sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi ukuphela kuseduze?
11 Ukuhamba ngokholo kusisiza ukuba sigweme imibono engokwenyama yokuthi ukuphela kukude noma ngeke kufike. Ngokungafani nabagxeki abalulaza iziprofetho zeBhayibheli, siyayiqonda indlela izenzakalo zezwe ezigcwalisa ngayo lokho iZwi likaNkulunkulu elakubikezela mayelana nosuku lwethu. (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Ngokwesibonelo, isimo sengqondo nokuziphatha kweningi labantu akunikezi yini ubufakazi bokuthi siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina”? (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Ngamehlo okholo, siyabona ukuthi izenzakalo zezwe zanamuhla aziwona nje umlando oziphindayo. Kunalokho, ziyingxenye ‘yesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaKristu nesesiphelo sesimiso sezinto.’—Mathewu 24:1-14.
12. Amazwi kaJesu akuLuka 21:20, 21 agcwaliseka kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala?
12 Cabanga ngesenzakalo sangekhulu lokuqala leNkathi yethu Evamile, esinomfuziselo osukwini lwethu. Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu Kristu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele. Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume.” (Luka 21:20, 21) Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka lapho amabutho amaRoma ayeholwa uCestius Gallus evimbezela iJerusalema ngo-66 C.E. Kodwa lawo mabutho ahoxa kungalindelekile, okwanikeza amaKristu ayelapho uphawu nethuba ‘lokubalekela ezintabeni.’ Ngo-70 C.E., amabutho amaRoma abuya, ahlasela umuzi waseJerusalema abhubhisa nethempeli lawo. UJosephus ubika ukuthi kwafa amaJuda angaphezu kwesigidi, kwathunjwa angu-97 000. UNkulunkulu wayesahlulela leso simiso sezinto sobuJuda. Labo ababehamba ngokholo futhi basilalela isixwayiso sikaJesu basinda kuleyo nhlekelele.
13, 14. (a) Iziphi izenzakalo ezizokwenzeka maduze? (b) Kungani kufanele sihlale sikuphaphamele ukubona ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli?
13 Maduze kuzokwenzeka okuthi akufane osukwini lwethu. Amalungu athile eZizwe Ezihlangene azoba nesandla ekukhishweni kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu. Njengoba nje amabutho amaRoma ekhulwini lokuqala ayehloselwe ukugcina i-Pax Romana (uKuthula KwaseRoma), iZizwe Ezihlangene namuhla nazo zihloselwe ukuba yinhlangano yokugcina ukuthula. Nakuba amabutho amaRoma ayezama ukuqiniseka ukuthi kuba nezinga elithile lokuphepha ezweni lonke elalaziwa ngaleso sikhathi, yiwo abhubhisa iJerusalema. Nanamuhla, iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zibonisa ukuthi imibuso ethile enothuthuva yeZizwe Ezihlangene izobona inkolo iyisiphazamiso bese ithatha isinyathelo sokubhubhisa iJerusalema lanamuhla—eLobukholwa—kanye nazo zonke ezinye izingxenye zeBhabhiloni Elikhulu. (IsAmbulo 17:12-17) Yebo, kuseduze ukuba ubhujiswe wonke umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga.
14 Ukubhujiswa kwenkolo yamanga kuyosho ukuqala kosizi olukhulu. Engxenyeni yokugcina yosizi olukhulu, kuyobhujiswa izingxenye eziyobe zisasele zalesi simiso sezinto esibi. (Mathewu 24:29, 30; IsAmbulo 16:14, 16) Ukuhamba ngokholo kusigcina siphapheme, sibone ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho zeBhayibheli. Asikhohliseki sicabange ukuthi inhlangano eyasungulwa abantu njengeZizwe Ezihlangene iyithuluzi likaNkulunkulu lokuletha ukuthula nokulondeka kweqiniso. Ngakho-ke, akufanele yini indlela esiphila ngayo ibonise ukuthi siyaqiniseka ukuthi “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze”?—Zefaniya 1:14.
Kuyingozi Kangakanani Ukuhamba Ngokubona?
15. Naphezu kokuba uNkulunkulu ayesibusisile, isizwe sakwa-Israyeli sawela kuluphi ugibe?
15 Okwenzeka ku-Israyeli wasendulo kubonisa izingozi eziba khona lapho umuntu evumela ukuhamba ngokubona kwenze ukholo lwakhe lube buthaka. Naphezu kokuba ayebone izinhlupho eziyishumi ezahlazisa onkulunkulu bamanga baseGibhithe futhi akhululwa ngendlela ewumbukwane oLwandle Olubomvu, ama-Israyeli awalalelanga; enza ithole legolide alikhulekela. Aphelelwa isineke, akhathala ukulinda uMose, ‘owayethatha isikhathi eside ukwehla entabeni.’ (Eksodusi 32:1-4) Ukuphelelwa isineke kwawenza akhulekela isithombe esibonakala ngamehlo enyama. Ukuhamba kwawo ngokubona kwamthukuthelisa uJehova, kwaholela ekufeni ‘kwamadoda angaba izinkulungwane ezintathu.’ (Eksodusi 32:25-29) Yeka indlela okudabukisa ngayo lapho umkhulekeli kaJehova namuhla enza izinqumo ezibonisa ukuthi akamethembi uJehova futhi akethembi ukuthi uyakwazi ukugcwalisa izithembiso zaKhe!
16. Ukubonakala kwangaphandle kwaba namuphi umthelela kuma-Israyeli?
16 Ukubonakala kwangaphandle kwaba nomthelela omubi kuma-Israyeli nangezinye izindlela. Ukuhamba ngokubona kwawenza athuthumeliswa izitha zawo. (Numeri 13:28, 32; Duteronomi 1:28) Kwawenza alibekela inselele igunya uMose ayelinikwe uNkulunkulu futhi akhononda ngesimo sokuphila kwawo. Lokhu kuntula ukholo kwaholela ekubeni ancamele iGibhithe elilawulwa amademoni kuneZwe Lesithembiso. (Numeri 14:1-4; IHubo 106:24) Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba uJehova waphatheka kabi ngayo lapho ebona abantu bakhe bebonisa indelelo enkulu ngeNkosi yabo engabonakali!
17. Yini eyenza ama-Israyeli alahla isiqondiso sikaJehova osukwini lukaSamuweli?
17 Osukwini lomprofethi uSamuweli, isizwe esikhethiwe sakwa-Israyeli saphinde sabanjwa ugibe lokuhamba ngokubona. Abantu baqala ukufisa ukuba nenkosi abangayibona. Nakuba uJehova ayebonisile ukuthi nguye oyiNkosi yabo, lokhu kwakunganele ukubenza bahambe ngokholo. (1 Samuweli 8:4-9) Ngobuwula, balahla isiqondiso sikaJehova esiphelele bakhetha ukuba njengezizwe ezibazungezile, okwabalimaza.—1 Samuweli 8:19, 20.
18. Iziphi izifundo esingazifunda ngezingozi zokuhamba ngokubona?
18 Njengezinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla, siyabazisa ubuhlobo obuhle esinabo noNkulunkulu. Silangazelela ukufunda izifundo ezibalulekile ezenzakalweni zakudala sizisebenzise ekuphileni kwethu. (Roma 15:4) Lapho ama-Israyeli ehamba ngokubona, akhohlwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayewaqondisa ngoMose. Uma singaqaphile, nathi singakhohlwa ukuthi ibandla lobuKristu namuhla liqondiswa uJehova uNkulunkulu noMose Omkhulu, uJesu Kristu. (IsAmbulo 1:12-16) Kumelwe siqaphe, singayibheki ngeso lomuntu ingxenye esemhlabeni yenhlangano kaJehova. Ukuyibheka ngaleyo ndlela kungasenza sibe nomoya wokukhononda, siphelelwe inhlonipho ngabameleli bakaJehova futhi singabe sisakwazisa ukudla okungokomoya okulungiselelwa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.”—Mathewu 24:45.
Zimisele Ukuhamba Ngokholo
19, 20. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza, futhi ngani?
19 IBhayibheli lithi: “Asibambene negazi nenyama kodwa sibambene nawohulumeni, namagunya, nababusi bezwe balobu bumnyama, nebandla lomoya ababi ezindaweni zasezulwini.” (Efesu 6:12) Isitha sethu esiyinhloko uSathane uDeveli. Uhlose ukonakalisa ukholo lwethu kuJehova. Ayikho into angeke ayisebenzise uma ingase isiphambukise esinqumweni sethu sokukhonza uNkulunkulu. (1 Petru 5:8) Yini eyosivikela singakhohliswa ukubonakala kwangaphandle kwesimiso sikaSathane? Ukuhamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona! Ukuzethemba izithembiso zikaJehova nokuqiniseka ngazo kuyosilonda ‘singaphukelwa umkhumbi wokholo lwethu.’ (1 Thimothewu 1:19) Ngakho-ke, masizimisele ukuqhubeka sihamba ngokholo, siqiniseka ngokugcwele ngesibusiso sikaJehova. Futhi kwangathi singaqhubeka sithandazela ukuba siphunyuke kuzo zonke izinto ezimiselwe ukwenzeka maduze.—Luka 21:36.
20 Njengoba sihamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona, sineSibonelo esivelele. IBhayibheli lithi: “[UKristu] wahlupheka ngenxa yenu, enishiyela isibonelo sokuba nilandele izinyathelo zakhe eduze.” (1 Petru 2:21) Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngokuthi singaqhubeka kanjani sihamba njengoba ahamba.
Uyakhumbula?
• Yini oyifundile esibonelweni sikaMose nesika-Esawu ngokuhamba ngokholo, hhayi ngokubona?
• Yini eyisihluthulelo sokugwema ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo?
• Ukuhamba ngokholo kusisiza kanjani ukuba sigweme umbono wokuthi ukuphela kusekude?
• Kungani ukuhamba ngokubona kuyingozi?
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
UMose wahamba ngokholo
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Ingabe ukuzilibazisa kuvamile ukukwenza ungayenzi imisebenzi engokwasezulwini?
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Ukunaka iZwi likaNkulunkulu kukuvikela kanjani?