Uyobulondoloza Yini Ubuqotho Bakho?

BANGAKI ondlunkulu abafile izolo? Akekho owaziyo, futhi cishe bambalwa abanendaba—ziningi izinyoni. Nokho, uJehova unendaba. Ekhuluma ngalezi zinyoni ezibonakala zingasho lutho, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Ngeke kuwele namunye wabo phansi uYihlo engazi.” Wanezela: “Ningesabi: nina nibaluleke ukudlula ondlunkulu abaningi.”—Mathewu 10:29, 31.

Kamuva abafundi baqonda ngokucace kakhudlwana ukuthi uJehova wayebazisa kangakanani. Omunye wabo, umphostoli uJohane, wabhala: “Ngalokhu uthando lukaNkulunkulu lwabonakaliswa ngokuqondene nathi, ngoba uNkulunkulu wathumela iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ezweni ukuze sizuze ukuphila ngayo.” (1 Johane 4:9) UJehova akagcini ngokunikeza isihlengo kodwa futhi uqinisekisa ngayinye yezinceku zakhe: “Angisoze ngakushiya noma ngakulahla nganoma iyiphi indlela.”—Heberu 13:5.

Kusobala ukuthi uthando lukaJehova ngabantu bakhe alunakuzanyazanyiswa. Kodwa, nawu umbuzo, ‘Ingabe thina sinamathele ngokuqinile kuJehova kangangokuthi asisoze samshiya?’

Imizamo KaSathane Yokuphula Ubuqotho Bethu

Lapho uJehova etshela uSathane ngobuqotho bukaJobe, uSathane waphendula: “Ingabe uJobe ubeyokukhulekela ukube bekungamzuzisi ngalutho?” (Jobe 1:9, Today’s English Version) Wasikisela ukuthi ubuqotho babantu kuNkulunkulu buxhomeke kuphela ‘kulokho abangakuthola.’ Uma lokhu kuyiqiniso, kungasho ukuthi ubuqotho banoma yimuphi umKristu bungaphulwa—uma nje okuthenjiswayo kukhanga ngokwanele.

Endabeni kaJobe, uSathane waqala ngokuthi ukuthembeka kukaJobe kuNkulunkulu kwakuyophela lapho elahlekelwa yizinto zakhe eziyigugu kakhulu. (Jobe 1:10, 11) Lapho lokhu kunyundela kubonakala kungamanga, uSathane wagomela: “Umuntu angadela yonke into ukuze aqhubeke ephila.” (Jobe 2:4, TEV) Nakuba ukugomela kukaSathane kungaba yiqiniso ngabathile, uJobe wenqaba ukwephula ubuqotho bakhe. Ukulandisa okungokomlando kuyakufakazela lokhu. (Jobe 27:5; 42:10-17) Ingabe wethembeke ngendlela efanayo? Noma ingabe uyovumela uSathane aphule ubuqotho bakho? Zicabange wena njengoba sihlola amaqiniso ahilela umKristu ngamunye.

Umphostoli uPawulu wayekholelwa ukuthi ubuqotho bobuKristu beqiniso bungaqina kakhulu. Wabhala: “Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi nakufa nakuphila . . . nazinto ezikhona manje nazinto ezizayo . . . nanoma iyiphi enye indalo ngeke kukwazi ukusihlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.” (Roma 8:38, 39) Singaqiniseka ngendlela efanayo uma uthando lwethu ngoJehova luqinile. Uthando olunjalo luyisibopho esingenakugqashuka, esingenakunqotshwa ngisho nawukufa.

Uma sinobuhlobo obunjalo noNkulunkulu, asinakuzibuza, ‘Kazi ngiyobe ngisamkhonza yini uJehova eminyakeni embalwa ezayo?’ Ukungaqiniseki okunjalo kungasikisela ukuthi ubuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu buxhomeke kulokho okungase kwenzeke phakathi nokuphila kwethu. Ubuqotho beqiniso abuthonywa yizimo zangaphandle. Buxhomeke ohlotsheni lomuntu esiyilo ngaphakathi. (2 Korinte 4:16-18) Uma uJehova simthanda ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu, asisoze samdumaza.—Mathewu 22:37; 1 Korinte 13:8.

Nokho, kumelwe sikhumbule ukuthi uSathane uhlale ezama ukuphula ubuqotho bethu. Angase asilinge ukuba sinqotshwe yizifiso zenyama, sivumele ukucindezelwa ontanga, noma abangele usizi oluthile ukuba lusenze sishiye iqiniso. Izwe elihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu lingumhlobo omkhulu kaSathane kulokhu kuhlasela, yize nokungapheleli kwethu kumenzela izinto zibe lula. (Roma 7:19, 20; 1 Johane 2:16) Noma kunjalo, kunezimo eziningana ezisivunayo kule mpi, futhi enye yeziyinhloko ukuthi asibona abangawazi amacebo kaSathane.—2 Korinte 2:11.

Ayini amacebo kaSathane? Encwadini ayeyibhalele abase-Efesu, uPawulu wawachaza wathi “amaqhinga.” (Efesu 6:11) USathane usakhela amaqhinga ukuze aphule ubuqotho bethu. Okujabulisayo ukuthi siyakwazi ukuwabona la maqhinga, ngoba izindlela zikaDeveli sibhalelwe zona eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Imizamo kaSathane yokucekela phansi ubuqotho bukaJesu nobukaJobe ibonisa ezinye zezindlela azama ngazo ukuphula ubuqotho bethu bobuKristu.

Ubuqotho BukaJesu Babungenakwephulwa

Ekuqaleni kwenkonzo kaJesu, uSathane waba nesibindi sokulinga iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ngokuyitshela ukuthi ayiguqule itshe libe yisinkwa. Yeka ubuqili! UJesu wayesenezinsuku ezingu-40 engadli, ngakho akungabazeki ukuthi wayelambe efile. (Luka 4:2, 3) USathane wasikisela ukuthi uJesu makanelise isidingo sakhe esingokwemvelo ngokushesha, ngendlela eyayiphambene nentando kaJehova. Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, ukukhohlisa kwezwe kukhuthaza ukuzanelisa ngokushesha, ungacabangi ngemiphumela. Kuthiwa, ‘Ukudinga manje,’ noma nje, ‘Vele ukwenze!’

Ukube uJesu wayenelise iphango engacabanganga ngemiphumela, uSathane wayeyobe ephumelele ukwenza uJesu aphule ubuqotho bakhe. UJesu wabheka izinto ngombono ongokomoya, waphendula ngokuqiniseka: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Umuntu akumelwe aphile ngesinkwa sodwa.’”—Luka 4:4; Mathewu 4:4.

USathane wabe eseshintsha unyawo. Esebenzisa kabi imiBhalo, uJesu ayecaphune kuyo, uDeveli wakhuthaza uJesu ukuba aziphonse phansi esuka embhoshongweni wethempeli. ‘Ingelosi izokusindisa,’ kusho uSathane. UJesu wayengazimisele ukufuna isivikelo esiyisimangaliso kuYise ukuze nje aqashelwe. UJesu wathi: “Akumelwe umfake ovivinyweni uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.”—Mathewu 4:5-7; Luka 4:9-12.

Iqhinga lokugcina likaSathane laliqonde nakakhulu. Wazama ukwenza isivumelwano noJesu ngokumthembisa lonke izwe nenkazimulo yalo, uma nje enza isenzo esisodwa sokukhulekela. Kwakungekho okudlula lokhu uSathane ayengamthembisa kona. Kodwa uJesu wayengasenza kanjani isenzo sokukhulekela esitheni esikhulu sikaYise? Kwakungenakwenzeka! UJesu waphendula: “NguJehova uNkulunkulu wakho okumelwe umkhulekele, futhi nguye yedwa okumelwe unikele kuye inkonzo engcwele.”—Mathewu 4:8-11; Luka 4:5-8.

Ngemva kokuhluleka kwaleyo mizamo emithathu, uSathane ‘wasuka kuJesu kuze kube esinye isikhathi esikahle.’ (Luka 4:13) Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi uSathane wayehlale egaqele ukuvivinya ubuqotho bukaJesu. Isikhathi esikahle savela ngemva kweminyaka emibili nengxenye lapho uJesu eqala ukulungiselela abafundi bakhe ukufa kwakhe okwase kuseduze. Umphostoli uPetru wathi: “Yiba nomusa kuwe, Nkosi; ngeke neze ube nalesisiphetho.”—Mathewu 16:21, 22.

Kungenzeka yini ukuthi lesi seluleko esinezinhloso ezinhle kodwa esingafaneleki samkhanga uJesu, kwazise sasivela komunye wabafundi bakhe? UJesu wabona ngokushesha ukuthi lawo mazwi ayeveza izifiso zikaSathane, hhayi ezikaJehova. UKristu waphendula ngokuqinile: “Buyela emva kwami, Sathane! Uyisikhubekiso kimi, ngoba awucabangi imicabango kaNkulunkulu, kodwa eyabantu.”—Mathewu 16:23.

Ngenxa yothando olungenakuphela lukaJesu ngoJehova, uSathane akakwazanga ukuphula ubuqotho bakhe. Kwakungekho lutho oluthenjiswa uDeveli olwalungaphula ubuqotho bukaJesu kuYise wasezulwini, ngisho nokulingwa okungakanani. Ingabe nathi siyozimisela ngokufanayo lapho izimo zenza kube nzima ukugcina ubuqotho bethu? Isibonelo sikaJobe siyosisiza siziqonde kangcono izinselele esingase sibhekane nazo.

Ubuqotho Naphezu Kosizi

Njengoba uJobe akuthola, usizi lungasehlela noma nini. Wayeyindoda ejabule emshadweni wayo, enezingane eziyishumi nesimiso esihle esingokomoya. (Jobe 1:5) Kodwa kwaphikiswana ngobuqotho bukaJobe kuNkulunkulu enkantolo yasezulwini, yena engazi, uSathane wayesezimisela ukubuphula nganoma iyiphi indlela ayengakwenza ngayo.

Ngokuphazima kweso, uJobe walahlekelwa yingcebo yakhe yezinto ezibonakalayo. (Jobe 1:14-17) Nokho, ubuqotho bukaJobe bamelana novivinyo ngoba wayengazange abeke ithemba lakhe emalini. Ekhumbula lapho esacebile, uJobe wathi: “Uma ngibeke igolide libe yithemba lami, . . . uma ngithokozile, ngokuba imfuyo yami inkulu . . . nalokho kwakungububi . . . , ngokuba ngangimphikile uNkulunkulu phezulu.”—Jobe 31:24, 25, 28.

Nanamuhla, kungenzeka ukuba silahlekelwe yiyo yonke into ebesinayo ngesikhashana. Usomabhizinisi ongomunye woFakazi BakaJehova wakhwabaniselwa walahlekelwa yisizumbulu semali, wasala engenalutho. Uvuma ngobuqotho: “Ngacishe ngamelwa yinhliziyo. Empeleni, ngicabanga ukuthi yayizokuma ukube ngangingenabo ubuhlobo noNkulunkulu. Nokho, lokhu okwenzeka kimi kwangenza ngabona ukuthi izinto ezingokomoya zazingezi kuqala ekuphileni kwami. Ukujabulela ukwenza imali kwamane kwasithibeza konke okunye.” Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, lo Fakazi uye wanciphisa ukuhileleka kwakhe ebhizinisini, futhi njalo ukhonza njengephayona elisizayo, uchitha amahora angu-50 noma ngaphezulu ngenyanga enkonzweni yobuKristu. Kodwa ezinye izinkinga zingaba zimbi ngaphezu kokulahlekelwa yimpahla yakho.

Kwathi uJobe engakayetshisi imibiko yokulahleka kwengcebo yakhe wezwa ngokufa kwezingane zakhe eziyishumi. Waqhubeka egomela: “Malibongwe igama likaJehova.” (Jobe 1:18-21) Ingabe siyobulondoloza ubuqotho bethu uma ngokungazelelwe silahlekelwa amalungu amaningana omkhaya wethu? UFrancisco, umbonisi ongumKristu waseSpain, walahlekelwa yizingane ezimbili engozini ebuhlungu yebhasi. Wathola induduzo ngokusondela eduze kukaJehova nokwandisa umsebenzi wakhe enkonzweni yobuKristu.

Ngisho nangemva kokulahlekelwa ngokushaqisayo yizingane zakhe, usizi lukaJobe lwalungakapheli. USathane wamshaya ngesifo esenyanyekayo nesibuhlungu. Ngaleso sikhathi, uJobe wathola icebiso elibi kumkakhe. “Thuka uNkulunkulu, ufe!” emkhuthaza. UJobe akazange alinake icebiso lakhe, futhi “akonanga ngomlomo wakhe.” (Jobe 2:9, 10) Ubuqotho bakhe babungaxhomekile ekusekelweni kwakhe umkhaya wakhe, kodwa ebuhlotsheni bakhe bomuntu siqu noJehova.

UFlora onomyeni nendodana endala abashiya indlela yobuKristu eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, uyiqonda kahle indlela okungenzeka uJobe wayezizwa ngayo. Uyavuma: “Lapho ngokuphazima kweso ungasakutholi ukusekela komkhaya wakho, kuba buhlungu. Kodwa ngangazi ukuthi ngangingenakuyithola injabulo ngaphandle kwenhlangano kaJehova. Ngakho ngama ngaqina futhi ngabeka uJehova kuqala njengoba ngangizama ukuqhubeka ngiyinkosikazi nomama okahle. Ngangithandaza njalo, futhi uJehova wangiqinisa. Ngingumuntu ojabulayo ngoba, naphezu kokuzimisela komyeni wami ukungiphikisa, ngiye ngafunda ukuthembela kuJehova ngokuphelele.”

Icebo elilandelayo likaSathane lokuphula ubuqotho bukaJobe lalihilela abangane bakhe abathathu. (Jobe 2:11-13) Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kwakucindezela kanjani lapho beqala ukumgxeka. Ukube wayevumelane nalokho ababekusho, wayengeke esamethemba uJehova uNkulunkulu. Iseluleko sabo esidumazayo sasingamthena amandla siphule nobuqotho bakhe, kanjalo icebo likaSathane liphumelele.

Kunalokho, uJobe waphikelela wathi: “Angiyikususa kimi ubuqotho bami ngize ngife.” (Jobe 27:5) Akazange athi, ‘Ngeke ngivume ukuba nithathe ubuqotho bami nina madoda!’ UJobe wayazi ukuthi ubuqotho bakhe babuxhomeke kuye nothando lwakhe ngoJehova.

Icebo Lakudala Lokubamba Izisulu Ezintsha

USathane usasisebenzisa iseluleko esingafaneleki noma ukuphahluka kwabangane nesikholwa nabo. Ukudumazeka okuvela ebandleni kungasidikibalisa kalula kunokushushiswa okuvela ngaphandle. Umdala ongumKristu owake wabona impi ibambene eseyisosha waqhathanisa lokhu nobuhlungu abuzwa ngenxa yamazwi nezenzo zamanye amaKristu akholwa nawo. Mayelana nalokhu kwesibili, wathi: “Kuyinto enzima kunazo zonke engake ngabhekana nazo.”

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, singathukutheliswa ukungapheleli kwalabo esikholwa nabo size siyeke ukukhulumisa abathile noma size siqale ukuphutha emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Ukupholisa imizwa yethu elimele kungase kubonakale kuyiyona nto ebaluleke kunazo zonke. Kodwa yeka ukuthi kungadabukisa kanjani ukuba sibe nombono omfushane ngaleyo ndlela, sivumele into eyigugu kunazo zonke esinazo—ubuhlobo bethu noJehova—intengantengiswe yilokho okwenziwa noma okushiwo abanye. Uma singavumela lokho kwenzeke, siyobe sibanjwa elinye lamacebo amadala kaSathane.

Silindele ukuba kube nezindinganiso eziphakeme ebandleni lobuKristu, futhi kufanele. Kodwa uma silindela okukhulu kakhulu kubakhulekeli esikanye nabo, abangakapheleli, nakanjani siyodumazeka. Ngokuhlukile, uJehova akeqisi kulokho akulindela ezincekwini zakhe. Uma silingisa isibonelo sakhe, siyokulungela ukubekezelela ukungapheleli kwabo. (Efesu 4:2, 32) Umphostoli uPawulu wanikeza lesi seluleko: “Uma uthukuthele, ungavumeli intukuthelo yakho ikuholele esonweni; ungavumi ukushona kwelanga kukuthole usayifukamele; ungamniki ntuba udeveli.”—Efesu 4:26, 27, The New English Bible.

Njengoba iBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile, uSathane usebenzisa amaqhinga ahlukahlukene ukuze athole indlela angabuphula ngayo ubuqotho bomKristu—uma engayithola. Amanye amaqhinga akhe ayayikhanga inyama enesono, amanye azwisa ubuhlungu. Kule ngxoxo, ungabona ukuthi kungani kungafanele neze ubanjwe ungazelele. Njengoba uthando lwakho ngoJehova lugxilile enhliziyweni yakho, nquma ukubonisa ukuthi uDeveli ungumqambimanga, wenze inhliziyo kaJehova ithokoze. (IzAga 27:11; Johane 8:44) Khumbula, ubuqotho beqiniso bobuKristu akumelwe nanini buphulwe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sifikelwa yikuphi ukulingwa.