Ingabe Ulandela UKristu Ngokugcwele?
‘Njengoba nje eqinisweni nihamba, qhubekani nikwenza ngokugcwele.’—1 THES. 4:1.
1, 2. (a) Iziphi izinto ezinhle abantu abaningi bosuku lukaJesu abazibona? (b) Kungani neyethu inkathi iyingqopha-mlando?
INGABE uke ufise sengathi ngabe waphila ngesikhathi uJesu elapha emhlabeni? Kungenzeka ucabanga ngethuba lokuphulukiswa uJesu, kanjalo ugweme ukucindezeleka nezinhlungu ezihambisana nezifo ezithile. Noma ucabanga ngenjabulo yokubona nokuzwa uJesu—ufundiswe nguye noma umbone enza isimangaliso esithile. (Marku 4:1, 2; Luka 5:3-9; 9:11) Yeka ukuthi kwakuyoba ilungelo elingakanani ukuba khona lapho uJesu enza yonke leyo misebenzi! (Luka 19:37) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, asikho esinye isizukulwane esiye sabona lezo zinto, futhi lokho uJesu akwenza emhlabeni “ngomhlatshelo wakhe” ngeke kuphindwe.—Heb. 9:26; Joh. 14:19.
2 Nokho, neyethu inkathi iyingqopha-mlando. Kanjani? Ngoba thina manje siphila enkathini imiBhalo eyayibikezela ngokuthi “isikhathi sokuphela” nangokuthi ‘izinsuku zokugcina.’ (Dan. 12:1-4, 9; 2 Thim. 3:1) USathane waxoshwa ezulwini kuyo le nkathi. Maduze, uzoboshwa futhi aphonswe “kwalasha.” (IsAm. 12:7-9, 12; 20:1-3) Kukuyo futhi le nkathi lapho sinelungelo elihle lokumemezela ‘izindaba ezinhle zombuso’ emhlabeni wonke, sitshele abantu ngethemba lePharadesi elizayo—umsebenzi ongasoze waphindwa.—Math. 24:14.
3. Ngaphambi nje kokuba enyukele ezulwini, uJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe ukuba benzeni, futhi lokho kwakuyohilelani?
3 Ngaphambi nje kokuba enyukele ezulwini, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe: “Nizoba ofakazi bami eJerusalema nakulo lonke elaseJudiya neSamariya nasezingxenyeni ezikude kakhulu zomhlaba.” (IzE. 1:8) Lowo msebenzi wawuyohilela ukufundisa abantu emhlabeni wonke. Ngamuphi umgomo? Wokwenza abafundi—abalandeli bakaKristu abengeziwe—ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela. (Math. 28:19, 20) Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze siphumelele ekufezeni umyalo kaKristu?
4. (a) Isiphi isidingo esigcizelelwa amazwi kaPetru akweyesi-2 Petru 3:11, 12? (b) Yini okudingeka siyiqaphele?
4 Phawula la mazwi agcizelelwa umphostoli uPetru: “Yeka ukuthi luhlobo luni lwabantu okufanele nibe yilo ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, nilindele futhi nikukhumbula njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova!” (2 Pet. 3:11, 12) Amazwi kaPetru agcizelela isidingo sokuhlale silindile phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina ukuze siqiniseke ukuthi ukuphila kwethu kuhlale kugxile ezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Lezo zenzo zihlanganisa nokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Ngakho-ke, yeka ukuthi kusijabulisa kanjani ukubona intshiseko abafowethu emhlabeni wonke abawufeza ngayo lo myalo kaKristu wokushumayela! Ngesikhathi esifanayo, siyaqaphela ukuthi kudingeka siqikelele ukuba izingcindezi zansuku zonke zezwe likaSathane nezibangelwa ukuthambekela kwenyama yethu esikuzuze njengefa zingayinciphisi intshiseko esifeza ngayo inkonzo yethu kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, ake sibone indlela esingaqiniseka ngayo ukuthi siyaqhubeka silandela uKristu.
Yamukela Imithwalo Yemfanelo Oyinikwa UNkulunkulu
5, 6. (a) Kungani uPawulu ancoma amaKristu akanye nawo aseJerusalema, futhi wawaxwayisa ngani? (b) Kungani kungafanele siyithathe kalula imithwalo yethu yemfanelo esiyinikwe uNkulunkulu?
5 Encwadini yakhe ayibhalela amaKristu aseJerusalema, umphostoli uPawulu wancoma amaKristu ayekanye nawo ngenkambo yawo yokukhuthazela ngokwethembeka ngisho nalapho ebhekene noshushiso. Wathi: “Qhubekani nikhumbula izinsuku zangaphambili okwathi ngazo, ngemva kokuba senikhanyiselwe, nakhuthazelela umncintiswano omkhulu ngaphansi kwezinhlupheko.” Yebo, uJehova wayikhumbula inkambo yawo yokwethembeka. (Heb. 6:10; 10:32-34) Amazwi kaPawulu amnandi okuwancoma kumelwe ukuba awakhuthaza kakhulu lawo maKristu angamaHebheru. Nokho, encwadini efanayo, uPawulu waxwayisa nangokuthambekela kobuntu okunganciphisa intshiseko yomuntu ngenkonzo kaNkulunkulu, uma kungalawulwa. Wathi amaKristu kufanele aqaphele ukuba ‘angahoxi,’ noma enze izaba, zokungalandeli imiyalo kaNkulunkulu.—Heb. 12:25.
6 Ukuxwayisa kwakhe ngalo mkhuba ‘wokuhoxa’ ekwamukeleni imithwalo yemfanelo esiyinikwe uNkulunkulu kuyasebenza nakumaKristu namuhla. Siyaqaphela ukuthi kudingeka sizimisele ukungalokothi siyithathe kalula imithwalo yethu yemfanelo njengamaKristu noma sivumele intshiseko yethu ngenkonzo kaNkulunkulu inciphe. (Heb. 10:39) Kakade, ukunikela inkonzo engcwele kuyindaba yokufa nokuphila.—1 Thim. 4:16.
7, 8. (a) Yini eyosisiza ukuba sihlale sishiseka enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu? (b) Uma intshiseko esasinayo ekuqaleni isinciphile, yini okufanele siyikhumbule ngoJehova nangoJesu?
7 Yini eyosisiza ukuba siqaphe ukuba singenzi izaba zokungazifezi izibopho esizinikezwe nguNkulunkulu? Enye indlela ebalulekile yokulwa nalokhu kuthambekela iwukuzindla njalo ngalokho okushiwo isithembiso sokuzinikezela kwethu. Empeleni, sathembisa uJehova ukuthi ukwenza intando yakhe kuyoza kuqala kunakho konke ekuphileni kwethu futhi sifuna ukusigcina leso sithembiso. (Funda uMathewu 16:24.) Ngakho-ke, ngezikhathi ezithile kudingeka sime futhi sizibuze: ‘Ingabe ngisazimisele ukuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwami kuNkulunkulu njengoba kwakunjalo lapho ngibhapathizwa? Noma ingabe intshiseko enganginayo ekuqaleni isinciphile njengoba iminyaka ihamba?’
8 Uma ukuzihlola ngobuqotho kubonisa ukuthi sesehlise umfutho ngandlela-thile, senza kahle ngokukhumbula amazwi akhuthazayo omprofethi uZefaniya. Wathi: “Kwangathi izandla zakho zingeyethe. UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho uphakathi kwakho. NjengoNamandla, uyosindisa. Uyokwethaba ngawe ngokwethaba okukhulu.” (Zef. 3:16, 17) La mazwi akhuthazayo asebenza okokuqala kuma-Israyeli asendulo abuyela eJerusalema evela ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni. Nokho, lesi sikhuthazo sisasebenza nakubantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla. Njengoba umsebenzi esiwenzayo ungokaJehova, kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova neNdodana yakhe bayasisekela futhi bayasiqinisa ukuze siyifeze ngokugcwele imithwalo yethu yemfanelo esiyinikwe nguNkulunkulu. (Math. 28:20; Fil. 4:13) Uma silwela ukuqhubeka senza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngentshiseko, uyosibusisa futhi asisize siqhubeke sichuma ngokomoya.
‘Ukufuna Umbuso Kuqala’ Ngentshiseko
9, 10. Kungani uJesu enza umfanekiso wesidlo sakusihlwa esikhulu, futhi isiphi isifundo esingasithola kuwo?
9 Ngesikhathi edla emzini wombusi othile ongumFarisi, uJesu wenza umfanekiso ngesidlo sakusihlwa esikhulu. Kulowo mfanekiso, wachaza ngethuba lokuzuza uMbuso wamazulu elanikezwa abantu abahlukahlukene. Wabuye wachaza ukuthi kusho ukuthini “ukuhoxa.” (Funda uLuka 14:16-21.) Abantu ababemenyiwe emfanekisweni kaJesu banikeza izaba zokungezi edilini. Omunye wathi kwakudingeka ahambe ayohlola insimu ayesanda kuyithenga. Omunye wathi wayethenge izinkomo futhi wayefuna ukuyozihlola. Omunye wathi: ‘Angikwazi ukuza ngoba ngisanda kuganwa.’ Lezi zizathu zazingathi shu. Umuntu othenga insimu noma imfuyo ngokuvamile uqala ngokuyihlola, ngakho akuyona into ephuthumayo ukuyihlola kamuva. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthi umuntu usanda kushada kungamvimba kanjani ukuba amukele isimemo esibaluleke ngaleyo ndlela? Yingakho umnikazi wedili emfanekisweni athukuthela wagana unwabu!
10 Bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangafunda emfanekisweni kaJesu. Bangafundani? Akufanele nanini sivumele izindaba zomuntu siqu, ezinjengalezo ezibalulwe emfanekisweni kaJesu, ukuba zibe ezibaluleke kangangokuba siyichilizele eceleni inkonzo yethu kuNkulunkulu. Uma umKristu engagcini izindaba zomuntu siqu zisendaweni yazo, intshiseko yakhe enkonzweni iyoncipha kancane kancane. (Funda uLuka 8:14.) Ukuze sigweme ukuba lokhu kwenzeke kithi, siphila ngokuvumelana neseluleko sikaJesu: “Ngakho, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe.” (Math. 6:33) Yeka ukuthi kukhuthaza kanjani ukubona izinceku zikaNkulunkulu—ezincane nezindala—zisisebenzisa leso seluleko esibalulekile! Empeleni, eziningi ziye zathatha izinyathelo zokwenza ukuphila kwazo kube lula ukuze zikwazi ukuba nesikhathi esengeziwe enkonzweni. Zizibonela mathupha ukuthi ukufuna uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala kuletha injabulo yangempela nokwaneliseka okukhulu.
11. Ikuphi ukulandisa kweBhayibheli okubonisa ukubaluleka kokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngentshiseko nangenhliziyo ephelele?
11 Ukuze kukukhanyele ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukushiseka enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu, phawula isenzakalo esithile esenzeka enkosini yakwa-Israyeli uJehowashi. Yaya ku-Elisha ikhala ngoba ikhathazekile ngalokho okwakubonakala sengathi abaseSiriya babezokwenza ku-Israyeli. Umprofethi wayiyala ukuba ime ngasefasiteleni futhi icibishele ibhekise eSiriya, okubonisa ukunqoba uJehova ayezobanika khona lapho belwa naleso sizwe. Ngokuqinisekile lokhu kwakufanele kunike le nkosi umdlandla. Ngokulandelayo, u-Elisha watshela uJehowashi ukuba athathe imicibisholo ayicibe phansi. UJehowashi waciba izikhathi ezintathu. Lokhu kwamthukuthelisa u-Elisha ngoba ukube waciba izikhathi ezinhlanu noma eziyisithupha kwakuyobonisa ukuthi ‘uzolishaya iSiriya aze aliqede.’ Manje uJehowashi wayezonqoba kathathu kuphela kodwa angawaqedi. Ngenxa yokuthi wantula intshiseko, impumelelo kaJehowashi yaba elinganiselwe. (2 AmaKh. 13:14-19) Isiphi isifundo esingasifunda kulokhu kulandisa? UJehova uyosibusisa kakhulu kuphela uma senza umsebenzi wakhe ngenhliziyo ephelele nangentshiseko.
12. (a) Yini eyosisiza ukuba sihlale sishiseka enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu kuyilapho sibhekene nezinselele zokuphila? (b) Landisa indlela ozuza ngayo ngokuzigcina umatasa enkonzweni.
12 Izinselele zokuphila zibeka engcupheni intshiseko nokuzinikela kwethu enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. Abafowethu nodadewethu abaningi babhekana nezimo zomnotho ezinzima. Abanye bakhungathekiswa ukugula okungathi sína okulinganisela lokho abakwaziyo ukukwenza enkonzweni kaJehova. Noma kunjalo, ngamunye wethu angathatha izinyathelo zokuqinisekisa ukuthi ulondoloza intshiseko yakhe futhi uqhubeka elandela uKristu ngokugcwele. Sicela uphawule okunye kokusikisela nemiBhalo esebhokisini elithi “Yini Eyokusiza Ukuba Uqhubeke Ulandela UKristu?” Cabanga ngendlela ongakusebenzisa ngayo ngokugcwele. Uma wenza kanjalo, uyothola izinzuzo zangempela. Ukuzigcina simatasa enkonzweni kusenza singantengantengi, kucebisa ukuphila kwethu, futhi kusilethela ukuthula nenjabulo eyengeziwe. (1 Kor. 15:58) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngomphefumulo wonke kusisiza ukuba ‘sikukhumbule njalo ukufika kosuku lukaJehova.’—2 Pet. 3:12.
Zihlole Ngobuqotho
13. Singanquma kanjani ngabanye ukuthi okungakanani kithi okusho inkonzo yomphefumulo wonke?
13 Nokho, kuhle ukukhumbula ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova ngomphefumulo wonke akuhlangene nokuthi singakanani isikhathi esisichitha enkonzweni. Izimo zabantu ngabanye ziyehluka. Umuntu ochitha ihora elilodwa nje noma amabili enkonzweni yasensimini inyanga ngayinye angase amjabulise kakhulu uJehova uma kuyilokho ngempela impilo yakhe emvumela ukuba akwenze. (Qhathanisa noMarku 12:41-44.) Ngakho, ukuze sinqume ngabanye ukuthi okungakanani kithi okusho inkonzo yomphefumulo wonke kuNkulunkulu, kudingeka sihlole ngobuqotho amakhono nezimo zethu. Njengabalandeli bakaKristu, sifuna nokuvumelanisa umbono wethu nowakhe. (Funda amaRoma 15:5; 1 Kor. 2:16) Yini eyayiza kuqala kunakho konke ekuphileni kukaJesu? Watshela izixuku zaseKapernawume: “Kumelwe ngishumayele izindaba ezinhle zombuso kaNkulunkulu, ngoba yilokhu engathunyelwa kona.” (Luka 4:43; Joh. 18:37) Ucabanga ngentshiseko kaJesu ngenkonzo yakhe, hlaziya izimo zakho ukuze ubone ukuthi ungekwazi yini ukwandisa inkonzo yakho.—1 Kor. 11:1.
14. Singayandisa ngaziphi izindlela inkonzo yethu?
14 Ukucabangisisa ngezimo zethu kungasenza siphethe ngokuthi singakwazi ukwandisa isikhathi esisichitha enkonzweni. (Math. 9:37, 38) Ngokwesibonelo, izinkulungwane eziningi zentsha yethu esanda kuphothula esikoleni ziye zandisa inkonzo yazo futhi manje zithola injabulo etholakala ngokukhonza ngentshiseko njengamaphayona. Ungathanda yini ukunambitha leyo njabulo? Abanye abafowethu nodadewethu baye bahlola izimo zabo futhi banquma ukuthi bangathuthela kwenye indawo esezweni lakubo, noma ngisho kwelinye izwe, lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona yabamemezeli boMbuso. Kanti abanye baye bafunda olunye ulimi ukuze basize abantu abakhuluma ezinye izilimi. Nakuba ukwandisa inkonzo yethu kungaba inselele, kusilethela insada yezibusiso, futhi singase sisize abaningi ukuba ‘bafinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.’—1 Thim. 2:3, 4; 2 Kor. 9:6.
Izibonelo EziseBhayibhelini Esingazilingisa
15, 16. Izibonelo zobani esingazilingisa ukuze sibe abalandeli bakaKristu abashisekayo?
15 Abanye ababa abaphostoli basabela kanjani lapho uKristu ebabiza ukuba babe abalandeli bakhe? Ukulandisa kuthi ngoMathewu: “Eshiya konke ngemuva wasukuma wamlandela.” (Luka 5:27, 28) Sifunda lokhu ngoPetru no-Andreya ababengabadobi: ‘Bashiya amanetha ngaso leso sikhathi, bamlandela.’ Ngemva kwalokho, uJesu wabona uJakobe noJohane belungisa amanetha abo benoyise. Basabela kanjani lapho uJesu ebamema? Ukulandisa kuthi: “Beshiya isikebhe kanye noyise ngaso leso sikhathi, bamlandela.”—Math. 4:18-22.
16 Esinye isibonelo esihle esikaSawulu owaba umphostoli uPawulu. Nakuba ayeshushisa abalandeli bakaKristu ngobuhlanya, washintsha inkambo yakhe, waba ‘yisitsha esikhethiweyo’ sokuphatha igama likaKristu. “Masinyane [uPawulu] waqala ukushumayela emasinagogeni ngoJesu, ukuthi Lo uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.” (IzE. 9:3-22) Nakuba kwadingeka ukuba akhuthazelele ubunzima obuningi nokushushiswa, intshiseko kaPawulu ayizange inciphe.—2 Kor. 11:23-29; 12:15.
17. (a) Siyini isifiso sakho ngokuphathelene nokulandela uKristu? (b) Iziphi izibusiso esizithola ngokwenza intando kaJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo namandla ethu?
17 Ngokuqinisekile sifuna ukulingisa izibonelo ezinhle zalabo bafundi futhi sisabele ngaphandle kokunanaza nangokungazigodli. (Heb. 6:11, 12) Iziphi izibusiso esizijabulelayo njengoba siqhubeka silwela ukulandela uKristu ngentshiseko nangokugcwele? Sithola injabulo yangempela lapho senza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi sithola ukwaneliseka okuhambisana nokwamukela amalungelo enkonzo engeziwe nemithwalo yemfanelo ebandleni. (IHu. 40:8; funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 4:1.) Yebo, njengoba sizikhandla ngamandla ekulandeleni uKristu, sithola izibusiso ezicebile nezihlala njalo ezinjengokuthula kwengqondo, ukwaneliseka, ukugculiseka, ukwamukelwa uNkulunkulu nethemba lokuphila okuphakade.—1 Thim. 4:10.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
• Imuphi umsebenzi obalulekile esiwunikiwe, futhi kufanele siwubheke kanjani?
• Ikuphi ukuthambekela kobuntu okumelwe sikuxwaye, futhi ngani?
• Ikuphi ukuzihlola ngobuqotho okufanele sikwenze?
• Yini eyosisiza ukuba siqhubeke silandela uKristu?
[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 27]
Yini Eyokusiza Ukuba Uqhubeke Ulandela UKristu?
▪ Funda iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke bese uzindla ngalokho okufundayo—IHu. 1:1-3; 1 Thim. 4:15.
▪ Thandaza njalo ucele ukuba uNkulunkulu akusekele futhi akuqondise ngomoya wakhe.—Zak. 4:6; Luka 11:9, 13.
▪ Zihlanganise nalabo ababonisa intshiseko eqotho ngenkonzo.—IzAga 13:20; Heb. 10:24, 25.
▪ Qaphela ukuphuthuma kwezikhathi esiphila kuzo.—Efe. 5:15, 16.
▪ Qaphela imiphumela emibi ‘yokuhoxa.’—Luka 9:59-62.
▪ Zindla njalo ngesithembiso sokuzinikezela kwakho nangezibusiso eziningi ezitholakala ngokukhonza uJehova nangokulandela uKristu ngenhliziyo ephelele.—IHu. 116:12-14; 133:3; IzAga 10:22.