Landela Ukukhanya Kwezwe
“Ongilandelayo . . . woba-nokukhanya kokuphila.”—JOHANE 8:12.
1. Kubaluleke kangakanani ukukhanya?
YINI ebesingayenza ngaphandle kokukhanya? Cabanga uvukela ebumnyameni amahora angu-24 usuku ngalunye lonyaka. Cabanga ngezwe elingenawo umbala, ngoba umbala awukho ngaphandle kokukhanya. Ngempela, ukuba ukukhanya kwakungekho, nathi sasingeke sibe khona! Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi enqubweni ye-photosynthesis, izitshalo eziluhlaza zisebenzisa ukukhanya ukuze zenze ukudla esikudlayo—okusanhlamvu, imifino, kanye nezithelo. Yiqiniso, ngezinye izikhathi sidla inyama yezilwane. Kodwa lezozilwane zazidla izitshalo noma ezinye izilwane ezaziphila ngezitshalo. Ngaleyondlela, ukuphila kwethu okungokwenyama kuncike ngokuphelele ekukhanyeni.
2. Imiphi imithombo enamandla yokukhanya ekhona, futhi lokhu kusitshelani ngoJehova?
2 Ukukhanya kwethu kuvela elangeni, eliyinkanyezi. Nakuba ilanga lethu likhipha ukukhanya okumangalisayo, liyinkanyezi engenkulu kakhulu. Eziningi zinkulu kakhulu. Futhi iqoqo lezinkanyezi esihlala kulo, umthala i-Milky Way, linezinkanyezi ezingaphezu kwezigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kunezigidi ezingenakubalwa zemithala endaweni yonke. Yeka ukuhleleka okumangalisayo kwezinkanyezi! Yeka ukukhanya okukhulu okuvela kuzo! Yeka umthombo wokukhanya onamandla uJehova ayiwo, owadala konke lokhu! U-Isaya 40:26 uyamemezela: “Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu, nibone. Ngubani odalile lezozinto na? Nguye okhipha ibandla lazo ngezibalo, abize zonke ngamagama; ngobuningi bamandla akhe nangobukhulu bezikhwepha zakhe ayisilali neyodwa.”
Olunye Uhlobo Lokukhanya
3. Kubaluleke kangakanani ukukhanya okungokomoya okuvela kuJehova?
3 UJehova futhi unguMthombo wolunye uhlobo lokukhanya, lolo olusenza sikwazi ukuba nombono ongokomoya, ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya. Esinye isichazamazwi sichaza “ukukhanyisela” ngalendlela: “Ukunika ulwazi: ukufundisa; ukunikeza ukuqonda okungokomoya.” Sichaza “ukukhanyiselwa” ngokuthi: “ukukhululwa ekungazini nasekwazisweni okungaqondile.” Ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya okuvela kuJehova kunikezwa ngolwazi oluqondile lweZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli. Yilokho okusenza sazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungubani nokuthi ziyini izinjongo zakhe. “UNkulunkulu owathi: Akuvele ukukhanya ebumnyameni, kukhanye, nguyena owakhanyisa ezinhliziyweni zethu ukuba kukhanye ukwazi inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ebusweni bukaKristu.” (2 Korinte 4:6) Ngaleyondlela, amaqiniso aseZwini likaNkulunkulu ayasikhulula ekungazini nasemangeni. UJesu wathi: “Niyakulazi iqiniso, neqiniso liyakunikhulula.”—Johane 8:32.
4, 5. Ulwazi oluvela kuJehova lusebenza kanjani njengokukhanya ekuphileni kwethu?
4 UJehova, uMthombo wokukhanyiselwa okungokomoya okuyiqiniso, ‘uphelele olwazini.’ (Jobe 37:16) Futhi, iHubo 119:105 lithi ngoNkulunkulu: “Izwi lakho liyisibani ezinyaweni zami.” Ngakho angakwazi ukusikhanyisela ngokomoya hhayi nje isinyathelo esilandelayo sokuphila kwethu kodwa futhi nendlela engaphambili. Ngaphandle kwalokho, ukuphila bekuyofana nokushayela imoto emgwaqweni omazombezombe osentabeni ebusuku obumnyama zingekho izibani emotweni noma kwenye indawo. Ukukhanya okungokomoya okuvela kuNkulunkulu kungaqhathaniswa nokukhanya okunikezwa izibani zangaphambili zemoto. Lokukhanya kukhanyisa umgwaqo ukuze sikwazi ukubona kahle lapho siya khona.
5 Isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 2:2-5 sibonisa ukuthi esikhathini sethu uNkulunkulu ubutha kuzo zonke izizwe abantu abafuna ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya ukuze bafunde futhi baqhube ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ivesi lesithathu lithi: “Uyakusifundisa izindlela zakhe, sihambe emikhondweni yakhe.” Ivesi lesihlanu limema abafuni beqiniso: ‘Wozani sihambe ekukhanyeni kukaJehova.’
6. Ukukhanya okuvela kuJehova ekugcineni kuyosiholelaphi?
6 Ngakho, uJehova ungumthombo wezinhlobo ezimbili zokukhanya ezibalulekile ekuphileni: okungokwenyama nokungokomoya. Ukukhanya okungokoqobo kusiza imizimba yethu engokwenyama ukuba ihlale iphila manje, mhlawumbe iminyaka engu-70 noma engu-80 noma ngaphezulu. Kodwa ukukhanya okungokomoya kuholela ekuphileni okuphakade epharadesi emhlabeni. Kunjengoba uJesu asho lapho ethandaza kuNkulunkulu: “Ukuphila okuphakade yilokhu ukuba bazi wena-Nkulunkulu wedwa oqinisileyo, nomthumileyo, uJesu Kristu.”—Johane 17:3.
Izwe Lisebumnyameni Obungokomoya
7. Kungani sidinga ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya manje kunanini ngaphambili?
7 Namuhla sidinga ukukhanya okungokomoya kunanini ngaphambili. Iziprofetho ezinjengoMathewu isahluko 24 neyesi-2 Thimothewu isahluko 3 zibonisa ukuthi siseduze nesiphelo salesimiso sezinto. Lezi kanye nezinye iziprofetho zabikezela izinto ezisabekayo eziye zenzeka esikhathini sethu, ezisenza sazi ukuthi ‘sisezinsukwini zokugcina.’ Ngokuvumelana neziprofetho ezinjalo, kulelikhulu leminyaka kuye kwaba nezinhlekelele eziningi. Ubugebengu nobudlova kuye kwanda kwafinyelela amazinga asabekayo. Izimpi ziye zabulala abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyikhulu. Izifo, ezinjengengculaza esabekayo, zisongela izigidi, abantu abangaba u-160 000 kakade sebeye babulawa yingculaza e-United States iyodwa. Ukuphila komkhaya kuye kwawohloka futhi nokuziphatha okuhle ngokobulili kubhekwa njengokuyisidala.
8. Yisiphi isimo manje esibhekene nesintu, futhi ngani?
8 Owayengunobhala-jikelele weZizwe Ezihlangene uJavier Pérez de Cuéllar wathi: “Isimo sezwe sinikeza ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi ubumpofu [buqeda] ubunye bemiphakathi.” Waphawula ukuthi “abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyinkulungwane manje baphila ngobumpofu obuphelele” nokuthi “ubumpofu buye babangela izingxabano zobudlova.” Wathi, “lezinkathazo ezingathi sína zibekela amakhambi angase asetshenziswe ohulumeni inselele.” Futhi isikhulu senhlangano ethile evelele savuma: “Inkinga eyinhloko umphakathi obhekene nayo iwukuthi awusalawuleki.” Yeka indlela ayiqiniso ngayo amazwi eHubo 146:3: “Ningethembi ezikhulwini nasendodaneni yomuntu okungekho kuyo ukusiza.”
9. Obani abanecala kakhulu ngobumnyama obusibekela isintu, futhi ubani ongasusa lelithonya?
9 Isimo namuhla sinjengoba u-Isaya 60:2 abikezela: “Bheka, ubumnyama buyasibekela umhlaba, nesigayegaye abantu.” Lobumnyama obusibekela abantu abaningi abakhile emhlabeni bungenxa yokungakwamukeli kwabo ukukhanya okungokomoya okuvela kuJehova. Futhi imbangela eyinhloko yalobumnyama obungokomoya iwuSathane uDeveli namademoni akhe, izitha eziyinhloko zikaNkulunkulu wokukhanya. ‘Bangababusi bezwe balobubumnyama.’ (Efesu 6:12) Njengoba eyesi-2 Korinte 4:4 isho, uDeveli ‘ungunkulunkulu walelizwe ophuphuthekisile ingqondo yabangakholwa, ukuze kungasi kubo ukukhanya kwevangeli lenkazimulo kaKristu ongumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.’ Akukho ukubusa komuntu okungaqeda ithonya likaSathane emhlabeni. UNkulunkulu kuphela ongakwenza.
“Ukukhanya Okukhulu”
10. U-Isaya wabikezela kanjani ukuthi osukwini lwethu ukukhanya kwakuyokhanyisela isintu?
10 Nokho, nakuba ubumnyama obukhulu busibekela iningi lesintu, iZwi likaNkulunkulu laprofetha futhi ku-Isaya 60:2, 3: “UJehova uyaphuma phezu kwakho, nenkazimulo yakhe iyakubonakala phezu kwakho. Izizwe ziyakuhamba ekukhanyeni kwakho.” Lokhu kuvumelana no-Isaya isahluko 2, owathembisa ukuthi kulezinsuku zokugcina kwakuyomiswa ukukhulekela kukaJehova kweqiniso, okukhanyiselwe, futhi njengoba amavesi 2 no-3 esho, “nezizwe zonke ziyakugobhozela khona. Abantu abaningi bayakuhamba, bathi: Wozani sikhuphukele entabeni kaJehova” okusho ukuthi, ekukhulekelweni kwakhe kweqiniso okuphakeme. Ngakho nakuba lelizwe lilawulwa uSathane, ukukhanya okuvela kuNkulunkulu kuyakhishwa futhi kukhulula abaningi ebumnyameni.
11. Ubani owayeyoba ngovelele kakhulu ekubonakaliseni ukukhanya kukaJehova, futhi uSimeyoni wamchaza kanjani?
11 Isiprofetho esiku-Isaya 9:2 sabikezela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayeyothumela othile ezweni ukuze abonakalise ukukhanya kwakhe. Sithi: “Abantu abahamba ebumnyameni babona ukukhanya okukhulu; abahlezi ezweni lethunzi lokufa ukukhanya kuyabakhanyisela.” Lokhu “kukhanya okukhulu” kuwuMkhulumeli kaJehova, uJesu Kristu. UJesu wathi: “Mina ngingukukhanya kwezwe; ongilandelayo kasoze ahamba ebumnyameni, kodwa woba-nokukhanya kokuphila.” (Johane 8:12) Lokhu abathile babekwazi ngisho nangesikhathi uJesu esengumntwana omncane. ULuka 2:25 uthi indoda egama layo linguSimeyoni ‘yayilungile, imesaba uNkulunkulu’ futhi “noMoya oNgcwele wayephezu kwakhe.” Lapho uSimeyoni ebona umntwana omncane uJesu, wathi ethandaza kuNkulunkulu: “Amehlo ami abonile insindiso yakho oyilungisele ebusweni babantu bonke, ukukhanya kokwambulela abezizwe.”—Luka 2:30-32.
12. UJesu waqala nini futhi kanjani ukususa inkungu yobumnyama esibekele abantu?
12 UJesu waqala ukususa inkungu yobumnyama esintwini ngokushesha ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwakhe. UMathewu 4:12-16 usitshela ukuthi lokhu kwakugcwalisa u-Isaya 9:1, 2, owayekhulume ‘ngokukhanya okukhulu’ okwakuyoqala ukukhanyisela abantu abahamba ebumnyameni obungokomoya. UMathewu 4:17 uthi: “Kusukela kulesosikhathi uJesu waqala ukushumayela nokusho ukuthi: Phendukani, ngokuba umbuso wezulu ususondele.” Ngokushumayela ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJesu wakhanyisela abantu ngezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. “Walethela ekukhanyeni ukuphila nokungabhubhi ngevangeli.”—2 Thimothewu 1:10.
13. UJesu wazichaza kanjani yena ngokwakhe, futhi kungani ayengenza kanjalo ngokuqiniseka okunjalo?
13 UJesu wakubonakalisa ngokwethembeka ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu. Wathi: “Ngizé ezweni ngingukukhanya ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yimi angahlali ebumnyameni. . . . Mina angikhulumanga ngokwami, kodwa uBaba ongithumileyo nguye onginiké umyalo wokuba ngizakuthini, ngikhulumeni. Ngiyazi ukuthi umyalo wakhe ungukuphila okuphakade.”—Johane 12:44-50.
“Ukuphila Kwakukuye”
14. UJesu uchazwa kanjani kuJohane 1:1, 2?
14 Yebo, uJehova wathumela iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni ukuba ibe ukukhanya ukuze ibonise abantu indlela eya ekuphileni okuphakade. Phawula indlela lokhu okuchazwe ngayo kuJohane 1:1-16. Ivesi lokuqala nelesibili lifundeka kanje: “Ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi, uLizwi wayekuNkulunkulu, uLizwi wayenguNkulunkulu. Yena lowo wayekhona ekuqaleni kuNkulunkulu.” Lapha uJohane ubiza uJesu ngaphambi kokuba abe umuntu ngegama elithi “Lizwi.” Lokhu kuphawula umsebenzi ayewenza njengoMkhulumeli kaJehova uNkulunkulu. Futhi lapho uJohane ethi “ekuqaleni wayekhona uLizwi,” kusho ukuthi uLizwi wayewukuqala kwemisebenzi kaJehova yokudala, “ukuqala kokudaliweyo kukaNkulunkulu.” (IsAmbulo 3:14) Isikhundla sakhe esiphakeme phakathi kwezidalwa zikaNkulunkulu sinikeza isisekelo sangempela sokubizwa kwakhe ngokuthi “uNkulunkulu,” onamandla. U-Isaya 9:6 umbiza ngokuthi “uNkulunkulu onamandla,” nakuba engeyena uNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke.
15. Yikuphi ukwaziswa okwengeziwe uJohane 1:3-5 asinikeza khona ngoJesu?
15 UJohane 1:3 uthi: “Konke kwavela ngaye; ngaphandle kwakhe akuvelanga-lutho kukho konke okuvelileyo.” EyabaseKolose 1:16 ithi “kwadalelwa kuyo konke okusezulwini nasemhlabeni.” UJohane 1:4 uthi “ukuphila kwakukuye, ukuphila kwakungukukhanya kwabantu.” Ngakho ngoLizwi, zonke ezinye izinhlobo zokuphila zadalwa; futhi ngeNdodana yakhe, uNkulunkulu wenza kube nokwenzeka ngesintu esinesono, esifayo, ukuba sizuze ukuphila okuphakade. Ngokuqinisekile uJesu ungonamandla u-Isaya 9:2 ambiza ngokuthi “ukukhanya okukhulu.” Futhi uJohane 1:5 uthi: “Ukukhanya kukhanya ebumnyameni, kepha ubumnyama abukwamukelanga.” Ukukhanya kumelela iqiniso nokulunga, okungokuphambene nobumnyama, obumelela iziphambeko kanye nokungalungi. Ngakho uJohane ubonisa ukuthi ubumnyama ngeke bukunqobe ukukhanya.
16. UJohane uMbhapathizi wabubonisa kanjani ubukhulu bomsebenzi kaJesu?
16 Manje uJohane unikeza ubufakazi emavesini 6 kuya ku-9: “Kwavela umuntu ethunyiwe nguNkulunkulu, igama lakhe linguJohane [uMbhapathizi]. Lowo wezela ubufakazi ukuba afakaze ngokukhanya, ukuze bonke bakholwe ngaye. Yena [uJohane] wayengesikho ukukhanya, kepha wayengozofakaza ngokukhanya [uJesu]. Kwakungukukhanya okuqinisileyo okukhanyisa wonke umuntu, okwase kuza ezweni.” UJohane wakhomba kuMesiya ozayo futhi waphendulela abalandeli bakhe kuYe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, zonke izinhlobo zabantu zanikezwa ithuba lokwamukela ukukhanya. Ngakho uJesu akezelanga nje ukuba kuzuze amaJuda kuphela kodwa ukuba kuzuze sonke isintu—ocebile noma ompofu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ungowaluphi uhlanga.
17. UJohane 1:10, 11 usitshelani ngesimo esingokomoya samaJuda osuku lukaJesu?
17 Amavesi 10 no-11 ayaqhubeka: “Wayekhona ezweni, izwe lavela ngaye; kepha izwe alimazanga. Weza kokwakhe, abakhe abamamukelanga.” UJesu, ekuphileni kwakhe kwangaphambi kokuba umuntu, izwe lesintu lalidalwe ngaye. Nokho, lapho esemhlabeni wenqatshwa abaningi babantu bakubo, amaJuda. Babengafuni ukuba ububi nobuzenzisi babo budalulwe. Bakhetha ubumnyama kunokukhanya.
18. UJohane 1:12, 13 ubonisa kanjani ukuthi abanye babengaba abantwana bakaNkulunkulu abayozuza ifa elikhethekile?
18 Emavesini 12 no-13 uJohane uthi: “Kepha bonke abamamukelayo wabapha amandla okuba babe-ngabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, labo abakholwa egameni lakhe, abangazalwanga ngagazi, nantando yenyama, nantando yendoda, kodwa bazalwa nguNkulunkulu.” Lamavesi okokuqala abonisa ukuthi, abalandeli bakaJesu babengewona amadodana kaNkulunkulu. Ngaphambi kokuba uKristu eze emhlabeni, ubuhlobo obunjalo bokuba amadodana kanye nethemba lasezulwini kwakungasivulekele isintu. Kodwa ngenzuzo yomhlatshelo wesihlengo sikaKristu ababonisa ukholo kuwo, abanye abantu bamukelwa ebuhlotsheni bokuba amadodana futhi bakwazi ukuba nethemba lokuphila njengamakhosi noKristu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini.
19. Kungani uJesu esesimweni esingcono kakhulu sokubonakalisa ukukhanya kukaNkulunkulu, njengoba kuboniswe kuJohane 1:14?
19 Ivesi 14 liyabonisa: “ULizwi waba-yinyama, wakha phakathi kwethu, sabona inkazimulo yakhe, inkazimulo njengeyozelwe yedwa kuYise.” Esemhlabeni, uJesu wabonakalisa inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ngendlela okuyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu eyizibulo kuphela eyayingenza ngayo. Ngakho, ngendlela eyingqayizivele, wayefaneleka kangcono kakhulu ukwambula uNkulunkulu nezinjongo zaKhe kubantu.
20. Njengoba kulotshwé kuJohane 1:15, uJohane uMbhapathizi usitshelani ngoJesu?
20 Ngokulandelayo, umphostoli uJohane uyabhala evesini 15: “UJohane [uMbhapathizi] wafakaza ngaye, wamemeza wathi: Nguyena lo ebengisho ngaye ukuthi: Lowo ozayo emva kwami uvelile ngaphambi kwami, ngokuba wayekhona kuqala kunami.” UJohane uMbhapathizi wazalwa ezinyangeni ezingaba yisithupha ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaJesu njengomuntu. Kodwa uJesu wenza imisebenzi eminingi kakhulu kunoJohane, ngaleyondlela waba ngaphambi kukaJohane ngazo zonke izindlela. Futhi uJohane wavuma ukuthi uJesu ayekhona ngaphambi kwakhe, njengoba uJesu wayekhona ngaphambi kokuba abe umuntu.
Izipho Ezivela KuJehova
21. Kungani uJohane 1:16 ethi samukelé “umusa phezu komusa”?
21 UJohane 1:16 uyabonisa: “Ngokuba ekugcwaleni kwakhe samukele sonke umusa phezu komusa.” Nakuba abantu bezalelwa esonweni ngenxa yokusizuza njengefa ku-Adamu, uJehova uhlose ukubhubhisa lesimiso esonakele, ukusindela kwezigidi emhlabeni omusha, ukuvuswa kwabafileyo, kanye nokususwa kwesono nokufa, kuphumele ekuphileni okuphakade epharadesi emhlabeni. Zonke lezibusiso abazifanelekeli abantu abanesono. Ziyizipho ezivela kuJehova ngoKristu.
22. (a) Yini isipho sikaNkulunkulu esikhulu kunazo zonke esiyenza ibe nokwenzeka? (b) Yisiphi isimemo esidluliselwa kithi encwadini yokugcina yeBhayibheli?
22 Isiphi isipho esikhulu kunazo zonke esenza konke lokhu kube nokwenzeka? “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe [lesintu] kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe-nokuphila okuphakade.” (Johane 3:16) Ngakho-ke, ulwazi oluqondile ngoNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe, “iNkosi yokuphila,” lubalulekile ngalabo abafuna ukukhanya okungokomoya kanye nokuphila okuphakade. (IzEnzo 3:15) Yingakho incwadi yokugcina yeBhayibheli idlulisela lesimemo esilandelayo kubo bonke abathanda iqiniso nabafuna ukuphila: “Woza! Nozwayo makathi: Woza! Nowomileyo makeze; othandayo makathabathe amanzi okuphila ngesihle.”—IsAmbulo 22:17.
23. Abantu abafana nezimvu bayokwenzani lapho befika ekukhanyeni?
23 Abantu abanjengezimvu, abathobekile ngeke nje beze ekukhanyeni kwezwe kuphela kodwa bayokulandela lokho kukhanya: ‘Izimvu zimlandele, ngokuba ziyayazi [imfanelo yeqiniso] ezwini lakhe.’ (Johane 10:4) Ngempela, bayajabula ‘ngokulandela ezinyathelweni zakhe’ ngoba bayazi ukuthi ukwenza kanjalo kuyosho ukuphila okuphakade kubo.—1 Petru 2:21.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yiziphi izinhlobo ezimbili zokukhanya ezivela kuJehova?
◻ Kungani ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya kubaluleke kangaka namuhla?
◻ UJesu ‘wayengukukhanya okukhulu’ ngayiphi indlela?
◻ UJohane isahluko 1 usitshelani ngoJesu?
◻ Yiziphi izipho ezitholwa yilabo abalandela ukukhanya kwezwe?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
USimeyoni wabiza uJesu ngokuthi “ukukhanya kokwambulela abezizwe”