UMbuso KaNkulunkulu—Ingabe Uyawuthola Umqondo Wawo?
“Kepha lowo ohlwanyelwe enhlabathini ekahle, lona yilowo ozwa izwi futhi awuthole umqondo walo.”—MATHEWU 13:23.
1. Yiziphi ezinye zezinkolelo ezivamile ‘ngombuso wamazulu’?
UYE ‘wawuthola yini umqondo’ walokho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu oyikho? Imiqondo ‘ngombuso wamazulu’ iye yahluka kakhulu phakathi namakhulu eminyaka. Inkolelo evamile namuhla phakathi kwamanye amalungu esonto iwukuthi uMbuso ungokuthile uNkulunkulu akufaka ngaphakathi enhliziyweni yomuntu lapho eguquka. Abanye banomuzwa wokuthi uyindawo lapho kuya khona abantu abahle ngemva kokufa beyojabulela injabulo engunaphakade. Abanye futhi bathi uNkulunkulu ukushiyele kubantu ukuletha uMbuso emhlabeni ngokusebenzela ukugxilisa izimfundiso nemikhuba yobuKristu ezindabeni zezenhlalo nezohulumeni.
2. IBhayibheli liwuchaza kanjani uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, futhi yini oyoyifeza?
2 Nokho, iBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu awuyona inhlangano yasemhlabeni. Awusona futhi isimo senhliziyo noma ukuguqulelwa komphakathi wesintu ebuKristwini. Yiqiniso, ukuqonda okunembile ngalokho loMbuso oyikho kuholela ezinguqukweni ezinkulu ekuphileni kwalabo ababonisa ukholo kuwo. Kodwa uMbuso ngokwawo uwuhulumeni wasezulwini omiswe ngokwaphezulu obangela ukuba kwenzeke intando kaNkulunkulu, uqeda imiphumela yesono nokufa futhi ubuyisela izimo zokulunga emhlabeni. Kakade loMbuso usuyabusa emazulwini, futhi ngokushesha “uyakuchoboza, uqede yonke lemibuso [yabantu], wona uqobo ume phakade.”—Daniyeli 2:44; IsAmbulo 11:15; 12:10.
3. Lapho uJesu eqala inkonzo yakhe, yini eyavulekela abantu?
3 Isazi-mlando uH. G. Wells sabhala: “Lemfundiso yoMbuso weZulu, okwakuyimfundiso eyinhloko kaJesu, futhi enengxenye encane kakhulu ezivumweni zokholo zobuKristu, ngokuqinisekile ingenye yezimfundiso ezibangela izinguquko ezinkulu ezake zashukumisa futhi zashintsha ukucabanga komuntu.” Kusukela ekuqaleni, isihloko senkonzo kaJesu sasithi: “Phendukani, ngoba umbuso wamazulu ususondele.” (Mathewu 4:17) Wayelapha emhlabeni njengeNkosi egcotshiwe, futhi okujabulisa kakhulu ukuthi manje kwakuvulwa indlela yokuba abantu bangahlanganyeli nje kuphela ezibusisweni zalowo Mbuso kodwa futhi babe ababusi nabapristi abakanye noJesu kulowo Mbuso!—Luka 22:28-30; IsAmbulo 1:6; 5:10.
4. Ekhulwini lokuqala, izixuku zasabela kanjani ‘ezindabeni ezinhle zombuso,’ okwaholela kusiphi isahlulelo?
4 Nakuba izixuku zazizwa “izindaba ezinhle zombuso” ezijabulisayo, bambalwa kuphela abakholwa. Ngokwengxenye, lokhu kwakubangelwa ukuthi abaholi benkolo ‘babevale umbuso wamazulu phambi kwabantu.’ ‘Basusa isihluthulelo solwazi’ ngezimfundiso zabo zamanga. Ngenxa yokuthi abantu abaningi babenqabe uJesu njengoMesiya neNkosi egcotshiwe yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJesu wathi kubo: “Umbuso kaNkulunkulu uyothathwa kini unikwe isizwe esithela izithelo zawo.”—Mathewu 4:23; 21:43; 23:13; Luka 11:52.
5. Iningi lalabo abezwa imifanekiso kaJesu labonisa kanjani ukuthi lalingezwa ngokuqonda?
5 Ngesinye isikhathi lapho efundisa isixuku esikhulu, uJesu, njengomkhuba wakhe, wasebenzisa uchungechunge lwemifanekiso ukuze avivinye isixuku futhi ahlunge labo ababengenaso isithakazelo esiqotho eMbusweni. Umfanekiso wokuqala wawuhilela umhlwanyeli owahlwanyela imbewu ezinhlotsheni ezine zenhlabathi. Izinhlobo ezintathu zokuqala zazingezinhle ukuba kungatshalwa kuzo, kodwa olokugcina ‘kwakuyinhlabathi ekahle’ eyathela izithelo ezinhle. Lomfanekiso omfushane waphetha ngalesi sikhuthazo: “Onezindlebe makalalele.” (Mathewu 13:1-9) Iningi lalabo ababekhona lamuzwa, kodwa alizange ‘lilalele.’ Lalingenawo amandla ashukumisayo, lingenaso isithakazelo sangempela sokwazi ukuthi imbewu eyahlwanyelwa ezimweni ezihlukahlukene yayifana kanjani noMbuso wamazulu. Laphindela emuva emakhaya ekuphileni kwalo kwansuku zonke, cishe licabanga ukuthi imifanekiso kaJesu yayimane nje iyizindaba ezinhle ezikhuluma ngokuziphatha. Yeka ukuqonda okucebile futhi yeka amalungelo namathuba amahle elalahlekelwa yiwo ngenxa yokuthi izinhliziyo zalo zazingasabeli!
6. Kungani ukuqonda “izimfihlo ezingcwele zombuso” kwanikwa abafundi bakaJesu kuphela?
6 UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Nina nikunikiwe ukuqonda izimfihlo ezingcwele zombuso wamazulu, kodwa labayabantu abakunikwanga.” Ecaphuna u-Isaya, wanezela: “‘Ngoba inhliziyo yalababantu iye yaba lukhuni, nangezindlebe zabo bezwile bangasabela, futhi baye bacimeza amehlo abo; ukuze bangalokothi babone ngamehlo abo bezwe nangezindlebe zabo futhi bathole umqondo wako ngezinhliziyo zabo bese bephenduka, ngibaphulukise.’ Nokho, ayajabula amehlo enu ngoba ayabona, nezindlebe zenu ngoba ziyezwa.”—Mathewu 13:10-16; Marku 4:11-13.
‘Ukuthola Umqondo’ WoMbuso
7. Kungani kubalulekile ‘ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso?
7 UJesu waveza inkinga. Yayiphathelene ‘nokuthola umqondo’ wesigijimi soMbuso. Kubafundi bakhe ngasese wathi: “Khona-ke, nina lalelani umfanekiso womuntu owahlwanyela. Lapho noma ubani ezwa izwi lombuso kodwa angawutholi umqondo walo, omubi uyafika ahlwithe lokho okuhlwanyelwe enhliziyweni yakhe.” Waqhubeka echaza ukuthi izinhlobo ezine zenhlabathi zazimelela izimo ezihlukahlukene zenhliziyo okwakuyohlwanyelwa kuzo “izwi lombuso.”—Mathewu 13:18-23; Luka 8:9-15.
8. Yini eyenza “imbewu” eyahlwanyelwa ezinhlotsheni ezintathu zokuqala zenhlabathi yangathela zithelo?
8 Esimweni ngasinye “imbewu” yayiyinhle, kodwa izithelo zaziyoxhomeka esimweni senhlabathi. Uma inhlabathi yenhliziyo yayifana nomgwaqo omatasa, ominyene, eyenziwe lukhuni izinto eziningi ezingezona ezingokomoya, kwakuyoba lula ngalowo muntu ozwa isigijimi soMbuso ukuba axolise, ethi akanasikhathi soMbuso. Leyo mbewu eyekelelwe yayingahlwithwa kalula nje ngaphambi kokuba imile izimpande. Kodwa kuthiwani uma imbewu yayihlwanyelwe enhliziyweni efana nenhlabathi enamadwala? Imbewu yayingase ihlume, kodwa kwakungaba nzima ukuba ijulise izimpande zayo ukuze ithole ukondleka nokusimama. Ukuba yinceku kaNkulunkulu elalelayo, ikakhulukazi phakathi noshushiso, bekungabeka inselele enkulu, futhi lowo muntu ubengakhubeka. Kanti futhi, uma inhlabathi yenhliziyo ibigcwele izinkathazo ezinjengameva noma isifiso sengcebo sezinto ezibonakalayo, isitshalo soMbuso esibuthakathaka besingaminyaniswa. Kulezi zimo ezintathu ezihlobene ekuphileni, azikho izithelo zoMbuso ebezingase zivezwe.
9. Kungani imbewu eyahlwanyelwa enhlabathini ekahle yakwazi ukuthela isithelo esihle?
9 Nokho, kuthiwani ngembewu yoMbuso ehlwanyelwe enhlabathini enhle? UJesu uyaphendula: “Kepha lowo ohlwanyelwe enhlabathini ekahle, lona yilowo ozwa izwi futhi awuthole umqondo walo, osithelayo ngempela isithelo futhi akhiqize, lona ngokuphindwe ngekhulu, lowo ngamashumi ayisithupha, lowayana ngamashumi amathathu.” (Mathewu 13:23) Lapho ‘bethola umqondo’ woMbuso, bebeyothela izithelo ezinhle ngokwezimo zabo ngabanye.
Umthwalo Wemfanelo Uhambisana Nokuqonda
10. (a) UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso kuletha kokubili izibusiso nomthwalo wemfanelo? (b) Ingabe umyalo kaJesu wokuba kuhanjwe kuyokwenziwa abafundi wawusebenza kubafundi bekhulu lokuqala kuphela?
10 Ngemva kokunikeza eminye imifanekiso eyisithupha ukuze achaze izici ezihlukahlukene zoMbuso, uJesu wabuza abafundi bakhe: “Ingabe niwutholile umqondo wazo zonke lezizinto?” Lapho bephendula bethi “yebo,” wathi: “Uma kunjalo, wonke umfundisi wasobala, lapho efundiswa ngokuqondene nombuso wamazulu, unjengomuntu, umninindlu, okhipha emtatsheni wakhe womcebo izinto ezintsha nezindala.” Izimfundiso nokuqeqesha okwakunikezwa uJesu kwakuyokwenza abafundi bakhe babe amaKristu avuthiwe ayengakhipha ‘enqolobaneni’ yawo ukudla okungokomoya okucebile okungapheli. Okuningi kwalokhu kwakuhlobene noMbuso kaNkulunkulu. UJesu wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi ‘ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso kwakungeke kulethe izibusiso nje kuphela kodwa futhi kwakuyoletha nomthwalo wemfanelo. Wayala: “Ngakho-ke hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi . . . nibafundise ukugcina zonke izinto enginiyale ngazo. Futhi, bhekani! Nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.”—Mathewu 13:51, 52; 28:19, 20.
11. Lapho kufika u-1914, yiziphi izenzakalo ezihlobene noMbuso ezenzeka?
11 Njengoba ayethembisile, uJesu uye waqhubeka enabafundi bakhe beqiniso kuwo wonke amakhulu eminyaka kuze kube manje. Kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, ngokuqhubekayo uye wabanika ukuqonda, futhi uye wabenza balandisa ngokusetshenziswa kokukhanya kweqiniso okwandayo. (Luka 19:11-15, 26) Ngo-1914, izenzakalo zoMbuso zaqala ukwambuleka ngokushesha nangendlela evusa amadlingozi. Kulowo nyaka, akuzange nje kuphela ‘kuzalwe’ uMbuso okwase kuyisikhathi eside ulindelwe kodwa kwaqala “isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (IsAmbulo 11:15; 12:5, 10; Daniyeli 7:13, 14, 27) AmaKristu eqiniso, eqonda lokho okushiwo izenzakalo ezenzeka manje, aye aqhuba umkhankaso wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokufundisa omkhulu kunayo yonke emlandweni. UJesu wakubikezela lokhu, ethi: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Mathewu 24:14.
12. (a) Uye waba yini umphumela wobufakazi boMbuso bosuku lwanamuhla obusabalele? (b) Kulelizwe elinokungabaza, amaKristu abhekene nayiphi ingozi?
12 Lobu bufakazi boMbuso obusabalele buye bafinyelela emazweni angaphezu kuka-230. Kakade, abafundi beqiniso abangaphezu kwezigidi ezinhlanu bayahlanganyela kulomsebenzi, futhi kusaqoqwa abanye. Kodwa uma siqhathanisa inani labafundi nezakhamuzi zomhlaba eziyizigidi ezingu-5 600, kusobala ukuthi njengasosukwini lukaJesu, iningi lesintu ‘aliwutholi umqondo’ woMbuso. Abaningi, njengoba kwabikezelwa, bahleka usulu bathi: “Kuphi lokhu kuba khona kwakhe okuthenjisiwe?” (2 Petru 3:3, 4) Ingozi kithi njengamaKristu iwukuthi isimo sabo sengqondo sokunganaki, sokungabaza, nesokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, kancane kancane singathonya indlela esibheka ngayo amalungelo ethu oMbuso. Njengoba sizungezwe abantu balelizwe, kalula singaqala ukwamukela ezinye zezimo zengqondo nemikhuba yabo. Yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani ukuba ‘sithole umqondo’ woMbuso kaNkulunkulu futhi sibambelele kuwo ngokugxilile!
Ukuzihlola Ngokuqondene NoMbuso
13. Ngokuqondene nokuthunywa kokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso, singazihlola kanjani ukuthi sisaqhubeka yini ‘sizwa’ ngokuqonda?
13 UJesu washo lokhu ngenkathi yokuvuna esiphila kuyo: “INdodana yomuntu iyothumela izingelosi zayo, futhi ziyoqoqa zikhiphe embusweni wayo zonke izinto ezibangela ukukhubeka nabantu abenza ukungabi namthetho . . . Ngalesosikhathi abalungileyo bayokhanya ngokukhazimulayo njengelanga embusweni kaYise. Onezindlebe makalalele.” (Mathewu 13:41, 43) Ingabe uyaqhubeka ‘uzwa’ futhi usabela emyalweni wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi? Khumbula, “lowo ohlwanyelwe enhlabathini ekahle” ‘walizwa izwi futhi wawuthola umqondo walo’ futhi wathela izithelo ezinhle.—Mathewu 13:23.
14. Lapho siyalwa, sibonisa kanjani ukuthi ‘siyawuthola umqondo’ weseluleko esinikezwayo?
14 Lapho senza isifundo somuntu siqu nalapho sisemihlanganweni yobuKristu, kumelwe ‘sithobisele izinhliziyo zethu ekuqondeni.’ (IzAga 2:1-4) Lapho kunikezwa iseluleko ngokuziphatha, ukugqoka, umculo, nokuzijabulisa, kumelwe sisivumele sijule ezinhliziyweni zethu futhi sisishukumisele ukuba senze noma yikuphi ukulungisa okudingekayo. Singalokothi sisilulaze, sibeke izaba, noma ngandlela-thile sihluleke ukusabela. Uma uMbuso ungokoqobo ekuphileni kwethu, sizophila ngezindinganiso zawo futhi siwumemezele kwabanye ngentshiseko. UJesu wathi: “Akuwona wonke umuntu othi kimi, ‘Nkosi, Nkosi,’ oyongena embusweni wamazulu, kodwa lowo owenza intando kaBaba osemazulwini nguye oyongena.”—Mathewu 7:21-23.
15. Kungani kubalulekile ‘ukufuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu’?
15 Ukuthambekela kobuntu kuwukukhathazeka ngokudla okudingekayo, izingubo, nendawo yokukhosela, kodwa uJesu wathi: “Khona-ke, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe [kukaNkulunkulu], futhi zonke lezi ezinye izinto ziyonezelwa kini.” (Mathewu 6:33, 34) Lapho uhlela izinto eziza kuqala, yenza uMbuso uze kuqala ekuphileni kwakho. Gcina ukuphila kwakho kulula, waneliswa izinto ezidingekile. Kuyoba ubuwula ukuzigcina simatasa ngemisebenzi engabalulekile nangokufuna ukuzuza izinto, mhlawumbe sicabanga ukuthi ukwenza kanjalo kuyamukeleka, njengoba lezi zinto zona ngokwazo zingezimbi ngempela. Nakuba lokho kungase kube iqiniso, ukuzuza nokusebenzisa izinto ezinjalo ezingabalulekile kuyokuthinta kanjani ukuhlela kwethu isimiso sesifundo somuntu siqu, ukuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu, nokuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela? UJesu wathi uMbuso ufana nomthengisi owathola “iparele elilodwa lenani eliphakeme, wahamba futhi wathengisa masinyane zonke izinto ayenazo wayeselithenga.” (Mathewu 13:45, 46) Yilena indlela okufanele sizizwe ngayo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kufanele silingise uPawulu hhayi uDema, owashiya inkonzo “ngoba ethanda isimiso samanje sezinto.”—2 Thimothewu 4:10, 18; Mathewu 19:23, 24; Filipi 3:7, 8, 13, 14; 1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10, 17-19.
“Abantu Abangalungile Ngeke Bawuzuze Njengefa UMbuso KaNkulunkulu”
16. ‘Ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuyosisiza kanjani ukuba sigweme ukuziphatha okungalungile?
16 Lapho ibandla laseKorinte libekezelela ukuziphatha okubi, uPawulu ngokungagunci wathi: “Babeshane! Anazi yini ukuthi abantu abangalungile ngeke bawuzuze njengefa umbuso kaNkulunkulu? Ningadukiswa. Izifebe, noma abakhonza izithombe, noma iziphingi, noma amadoda agcinelwe izinjongo ezingezona ezemvelo, noma amadoda alala namadoda, noma amasela, noma abantu abahahayo, noma izidakwa, noma izithuki, noma abaphangi ngeke bawuzuze njengefa umbuso kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 6:9, 10) Uma ‘siwuthola umqondo’ woMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ngeke sizikhohlise ngokucabanga ukuthi uJehova uyobekezelela ukuziphatha okubi okuthile uma nje esibona simatasa enkonzweni yobuKristu. Ukungahlanzeki akufanele kuphathwe nokuphathwa phakathi kwethu. (Efesu 5:3-5) Ingabe uthola ukuthi okunye kokucabanga noma imikhuba yalelizwe engcolile iqala ukungena ngesinyelela ekuphileni kwakho? Yisuse ngokushesha! UMbuso uyigugu kakhulu ukuba ungakulahlekela ngenxa yezinto ezinjalo.—Marku 9:47.
17. Ukwazisa ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuyokukhuthaza ngaziphi izindlela ukuthobeka futhi kususe izimbangela zokukhubeka?
17 Abafundi bakaJesu babuza: “Ubani ngempela omkhulu kunabo bonke embusweni wamazulu?” UJesu waphendula ngokumisa umntwana omncane phakathi kwabo wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, Ngaphandle kokuba niguquke futhi nibe njengabantwana abancane, anisoze nangena embusweni wamazulu. Ngakho-ke, noma ubani oyozithoba njengalomntwana omncane nguye ongomkhulu kunabo bonke embusweni wamazulu.” (Mathewu 18:1-6) Abaqhoshayo, abafuna izinto ngenkani, abangenandaba, nabangenamthetho ngeke babe seMbusweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi ngeke babe izikhonzi zalowo Mbuso. Ingabe uthando lwakho ngabafowenu, ukuthobeka kwakho, ukwesaba kwakho kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, kukushukumisela ukuba ugweme ukukhuba abanye ngokuziphatha kwakho? Noma ingabe uphikelela ufuna ‘amalungelo’ akho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lesi simo sengqondo nenkambo kubathinta kanjani abanye?—Roma 14:13, 17.
18. Yini eyoba umphumela esintwini esilalelayo lapho uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ubangela ukuba intando yaKhe yenziwe “emhlabeni, njengasezulwini”?
18 UBaba wethu wasezulwini, uJehova, ngokushesha uzowuphendula ngokugcwele lomthandazo wobuqotho: “Umbuso wakho mawuze. Intando yakho mayenzeke nasemhlabeni, njengasezulwini.” Ngokushesha iNkosi ebusayo, uJesu Kristu, izoza ngomqondo wokuhlala esihlalweni sayo sokwahlulela, ukuze ihlukanise “izimvu ezimbuzini.” Ngaleso sikhathi esimisiwe, “inkosi iyothi kulabo abangakwesokunene sayo, ‘Wozani, nina enibusiswe nguBaba, zuzani njengefa umbuso enawulungiselelwa kusukela ekusekelweni kwezwe.’” Izimbuzi ‘ziyomuka ziye ekunqunyweni okumi phakade, kodwa abalungileyo baye ekuphileni okumi phakade.’ (Mathewu 6:10; 25:31-34, 46) ‘Usizi olukhulu’ luyosisusa ngokuphelele isimiso esidala nabo bonke abenqaba ‘ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso. Kodwa izigidi zabasinde “osizini olukhulu” nezinkulungwane zezigidi ezizovuswa zizozuza njengefa izibusiso zoMbuso ngokungenasiphelo ePharadesi elibuyiselwe lasemhlabeni. (IsAmbulo 7:14) UMbuso uwuhulumeni omusha womhlaba, obusa usezulwini. Uyoyifeza ize iphelele injongo kaJehova ngomhlaba nangesintu, kungcweliswe igama lakhe elingcwele kunawo wonke. Ingabe lelo akulona yini ifa elikufanelekela kakhulu ukusetshenzelwa, ukuzidela, nokulindelwa? Yilokhu ‘ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso okufanele kukusho kithi!
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Uyini uMbuso kaNkulunkulu?
◻ Kungani iningi lezilaleli zikaJesu ‘lingawutholanga umqondo’ woMbuso?
◻ ‘Ukuthola umqondo’ woMbuso kukuletha kanjani kokubili izibusiso nomthwalo wemfanelo?
◻ Ngokuphathelene nokushumayela, yini ebonisa ukuthi ‘siwutholile umqondo’ woMbuso?
◻ Sibonisa kanjani ngokuziphatha kwethu ukuthi ‘siwutholile umqondo’ weseluleko esinikeziwe?
[Izithombe ekhasini 17]
Abafundi bakaJesu ‘bawuthola umqondo’ woMbuso futhi bathela isithelo esihle