“Uma UNkulunkulu Engakithi, Ubani Oyomelana Nathi?”
“Sizothini-ke kulezizinto? Uma uNkulunkulu engakithi, ubani oyomelana nathi?”—ROMA 8:31.
1. Obani abaphuma nama-Israyeli eGibithe, futhi yini eyabaholela ekwenzeni kanjalo?
LAPHO ama-Israyeli ethola inkululeko ngemva kokuchitha iminyaka engu-215 eGibithe, eminingi yaleyo minyaka esebugqilini, “kwenyuka [nawo] ingxubevange yabantu.” (Eksodusi 12:38) Laba bantu ababengewona ama-Israyeli babebone izinhlupho eziyishumi ezesabekayo ezazidale umonakalo eGibithe, zenza nonkulunkulu bamanga bakhona baba yinhlekisa. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, babebone amandla kaNkulunkulu okuvikela abantu bakhe—ikakhulu kusukela enhluphweni yesine. (Eksodusi 8:23, 24) Nakuba babengenalwazi olutheni lwezinjongo zikaJehova, babeqiniseka ngento eyodwa: Onkulunkulu baseGibithe babehlulekile ukuvikela abantu baseGibithe, kanti uJehova wayezibonakalise enamandla ekulweleni ama-Israyeli.
2. Kungani uRahabi asekela izinhloli ezingama-Israyeli, futhi kungani ayengenzanga iphutha ngokuthembela kuNkulunkulu wazo?
2 Ngemva kweminyaka engu-40, ngaphambi nje kokuba ama-Israyeli angene eZweni Lesithembiso, uJoshuwa, owalandela uMose esikhundleni, wathumela amadoda amabili ukuba ayohlola izwe. Afika athola uRahabi, isakhamuzi saseJeriko. Ngokwalokho uRahabi ayekuzwile ngezenzo zamandla zikaJehova zokuvikela ama-Israyeli phakathi neminyaka engu-40 kusukela ephume eGibithe, wayazi ukuthi uma ayefuna isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu, kwakumelwe asekele abantu bakhe. Ngenxa yesinqumo sakhe esihlakaniphile, yena nabakubo basinda ekubhujisweni lapho ama-Israyeli ethatha umuzi kamuva. Indlela eyisimangaliso abasindiswa ngayo nje ngokwayo yaba ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uNkulunkulu wayenabo. Ngakho, uRahabi wayengenzanga iphutha ngokuthembela kuNkulunkulu wama-Israyeli.—Joshuwa 2:1, 9-13; 6:15-17, 25.
3. (a) Yisiphi isimangaliso uJesu asenza ngasemzini waseJeriko owase wakhiwe kabusha, futhi abefundisi bamaJuda basabela kanjani? (b) Yini eyaqashelwa amanye amaJuda nabaningi ababengewona amaJuda kamuva?
3 Ngemva kwamakhulu angu-15 eminyaka, uJesu Kristu waphulukisa isinxibi esiyimpumputhe ngasemzini waseJeriko owase wakhiwe kabusha. (Marku 10:46-52; Luka 18:35-43) Le ndoda yancenga uJesu ukuba ayibonise isihe, okwaveza ukuthi yayiqaphela ukuthi uJesu Kristu usekelwa nguNkulunkulu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abaholi abaningi benkolo yamaJuda nabalandeli babo benqaba ukwamukela izimangaliso zikaJesu njengeziwubufakazi bokuthi wayenza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, bamgxeka. (Marku 2:15, 16; 3:1-6; Luka 7:31-35) Ngisho nalapho bebona ukuthi uJesu wayevusiwe ngemva kokuba bembulele, babengazimisele ukuvuma ukuthi lokhu kwakwenziwe nguNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, babehamba phambili ekushushiseni abalandeli bakaJesu, bezama ukuvimba umsebenzi wabo ‘wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle zeNkosi uJesu.’ Kodwa amanye amaJuda, kamuva nabanye abaningi ababengewona amaJuda, baziqaphela lezi zenzakalo futhi bazihlaziya ngokunembile. Kubo, kwakusobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayebalahlile abaholi bamaJuda ababezibona belungile, nokuthi wayesekela abalandeli abathobekile bakaJesu Kristu.—IzEnzo 11:19-21.
Obani Namuhla Abasekelwa NguNkulunkulu?
4, 5. (a) Abanye abantu bazizwa kanjani ngokukhetha inkolo? (b) Yimuphi umbuzo obalulekile ekuboneni inkolo yeqiniso?
4 Mayelana nenkolo yeqiniso, umfundisi othile usanda kusho la mazwi ku-TV lapho kuxoxwa naye: “Ngiyagomela ukuthi inkolo ingeyeqiniso uma yenza umuntu abe ngumuntu ongcono lapho ephila ngokuvumelana nayo.” Kuyavunywa, inkolo yeqiniso iyabenza abantu babe ngcono. Kodwa ingabe ukwenza kwenkolo abantu babe ngcono kukodwa kufakazela ukuthi isekelwa nguNkulunkulu? Ingabe leso ukuphela kwesici sokunquma ukuthi inkolo ingeyeqiniso yini?
5 Wonke umuntu uyathanda ukuzikhethela izinto, kuhlanganise nenkolo azoba kuyo. Kodwa ukuba nenkululeko yokuzikhethela akusho ukuthi nakanjani umuntu uyokhetha okuyikonakona. Ngokwesibonelo, abanye abantu bakhetha inkolo ngenxa yobukhulu bayo, ingcebo yayo, ukwenza kwayo imikhosi ewumbukwane noma ngenxa yokuthi abanye emndenini wakubo bakuyo. Ayikho neyodwa kulezi zinto ebalulekile ekunqumeni ukuthi inkolo ingeyeqiniso yini noma cha. Umbuzo osemqoka kule ndaba yilona: Iyiphi inkolo enxusa abalandeli bayo ukuba benze intando kaNkulunkulu futhi enikeza ubufakazi obuqinile bokuthi isekelwa ngokwaphezulu, okwenza abalandeli bayo bakwazi ukusho ngokuqiniseka ukuthi, ‘uNkulunkulu ungakithi’?
6. Yimaphi amazwi kaJesu asikhanyiselayo endabeni yenkolo yeqiniso neyamanga?
6 UJesu wanikeza isimiso sokuhlukanisa phakathi kokukhulekela kweqiniso nokwamanga lapho ethi: “Qaphelani abaprofethi bamanga abeza kini bembethe isembozo semvu, kodwa ngaphakathi beyizimpisi eziphangayo. Niyobabona ngezithelo zabo.” (Mathewu 7:15, 16; Malaki 3:18) Ake sibukeze ezinye ‘zezithelo,’ noma izimpawu, eziveza inkolo yeqiniso ukuze sikwazi ukubona ngokucacile ukuthi obani namuhla abasekelwa ngokwaphezulu.
Izimpawu Eziveza Labo Abasekelwa NguNkulunkulu
7. Kusho ukuthini ukufundisa izinto ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini kuphela?
7 Basekela izimfundiso zabo eBhayibhelini. UJesu wathi: “Lokho engikufundisayo akukhona okwami, kodwa kungokwalowo ongithumile. Uma noma ubani efisa ukwenza intando yaKhe, uyokwazi ngokuphathelene nalemfundiso ukuthi ivela kuNkulunkulu yini noma ngikhuluma ngokuzisungulela kwami siqu.” Wathi futhi: “Lowo ovela kuNkulunkulu uyawalalela amazwi kaNkulunkulu.” (Johane 7:16, 17; 8:47) Kunengqondo ukuthi, ukuze umuntu asekelwe nguNkulunkulu kumelwe afundise lokho uNkulunkulu akwembula eZwini lakhe kuphela, alahle izimfundiso ezisekelwe ekuhlakanipheni kwabantu noma emasikweni.—Isaya 29:13; Mathewu 15:3-9; Kolose 2:8.
8. Kungani kubalulekile ukusebenzisa igama likaNkulunkulu ekukhulekeleni?
8 Basebenzisa futhi bamemezele igama likaNkulunkulu, elithi Jehova. U-Isaya wabikezela: “Niyakusho ngalolo suku ukuthi: ‘Bongani uJehova, nibize igama lakhe, nizazise izenzo zakhe phakathi kwezizwe, nimemezele ukuthi igama lakhe liphakeme. Hlabelelani kuJehova, ngokuba wenzile izinto ezinkulu; lokhu makwazeke emhlabeni wonke.’” (Isaya 12:4, 5) UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandaze bathi: “Baba wethu osemazulwini, malingcweliswe igama lakho.” (Mathewu 6:9) Ngakho-ke, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ayengamaJuda noma cha, amaKristu kwakufanele abe “isizwe segama [likaNkulunkulu].” (IzEnzo 15:14) Kusobala ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakujabulela ukusekela labo abaziqhenyayo ngokuba “isizwe segama lakhe.”
9. (a) Kungani amalungu enkolo yeqiniso ephawuleka ngokujabula? (b) U-Isaya uwuveza kanjani umehluko phakathi kwenkolo yeqiniso neyamanga?
9 Banenjabulo njengoNkulunkulu. Njengomthombo “wezindaba ezinhle,” uJehova ‘unguNkulunkulu ojabulayo.’ (1 Thimothewu 1:11) Pho abakhulekeli bakhe bangayeka kanjani ukujabula, bahlale belindele okubi njalo? Naphezu kosizi lomhlaba wonke nezinkinga anazo, amaKristu eqiniso ahlala ejabule ngoba azondla njalo ngokudla okungokomoya okuyinala. U-Isaya uveza umehluko phakathi kwawo nalabo abaqhuba inkolo yamanga: “Isho kanje iNkosi uNkulunkulu, ithi: ‘Bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakudla, kepha nina niyakulamba; bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakuphuza, kepha nina niyakoma; bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakuthokoza, kepha nina niyakujabha; bhekani, izinceku zami ziyakujabula ngokwenama kwenhliziyo, kepha nina niyakuklewula ngokwaphuka komoya.’”—Isaya 65:13, 14.
10. Labo abasenkolweni yeqiniso bakugwema kanjani ukufunda ngokwenza amaphutha?
10 Ukuziphatha kwabo nezinqumo zabo bakusekela ezimisweni zeBhayibheli. Umlobi wezAga uyasicebisa: “Themba kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mazise yena ezindleleni zakho zonke, uyakuqondisa imikhondo yakho.” (IzAga 3:5, 6) UNkulunkulu usekela labo ababheka kuye ukuze bathole isiqondiso, hhayi emibonweni engqubuzanayo yabantu abangakushayi mkhuba ukuhlakanipha kwakhe. Izinga umuntu azimisele ngalo ukuvumelanisa ukuphila kwakhe neZwi likaNkulunkulu yilona zinga ayogwema ngalo ukufunda ngokwenza amaphutha.—IHubo 119:33; 1 Korinte 1:19-21.
11. (a) Kungani amalungu enkolo yeqiniso engenakuhlukana abe nesigaba sabefundisi nesabantu abavamile? (b) Labo abaholayo phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu kufanele bawubekele siphi isibonelo umhlambi?
11 Bahlelwe ngendlela ibandla lamaKristu lekhulu lokuqala elalihlelwe ngayo. UJesu wabeka lesi simiso: “Nina, maningabizwa ngokuthi Rabi, ngoba munye ongumfundisi wenu, kanti nonke nina ningabafowabo bomunye nomunye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ningabizi muntu emhlabeni ngokuthi uyihlo, ngoba munye onguYihlo, yiLowo osezulwini. Maningabizwa futhi ngokuthi ‘abaholi,’ ngoba munye onguMholi wenu, uKristu. Kodwa omkhulu kakhulu phakathi kwenu kumelwe abe isikhonzi senu.” (Mathewu 23:8-11) Ukuba yibandla labafowabo bomunye nomunye akudingi sigaba sabefundisi esiziqholisa ngeziqu zokuzikhukhumeza, siziphakamise phezu kwabantu abavamile. (Jobe 32:21, 22) Labo abelusa umhlambi kaNkulunkulu batshelwa ukuba baweluse “kungabi ngokucindezelwa, kodwa ngokuzithandela; futhi kungabi ngenxa yothando lwenzuzo yokungathembeki, kodwa ngokulangazela; futhi kungabi ngokuzenza izingqongqo phezu kwalabo abayifa likaNkulunkulu, kodwa ngokuba yizibonelo emhlambini.” (1 Petru 5:2, 3) Abelusi abangamaKristu angempela abazami ukuzenza amakhosi phezu kokholo lwabanye. Njengezisebenzi ezibambisene enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu, bamane bazame ukubeka isibonelo esihle.—2 Korinte 1:24.
12. UNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba labo abafisa ukusekelwa nguye babheke ohulumeni babantu ngayiphi indlela enokulinganisela?
12 Bayazithoba kohulumeni babantu kodwa futhi abathathi hlangothi. Lowo ‘ongazithobi emagunyeni aphakeme’ akanakulindela ukusekelwa nguNkulunkulu. Ngani? Ngoba “amagunya akhona ami ezikhundleni zawo ezilinganiselwe ebekwe uNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke lowo ophikisa igunya uthathé ukuma ngokumelene nohlelo lukaNkulunkulu.” (Roma 13:1, 2) Nokho, uJesu waqaphela ukuthi kungase kube khona ukungqubuzana lapho ethi: “Buyiselani izinto zikaKesari kuKesari, kodwa izinto zikaNkulunkulu kuNkulunkulu.” (Marku 12:17) Labo abafisa ukusekelwa nguNkulunkulu kumelwe ‘baqhubeke befuna kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe,’ ngesikhathi esifanayo balalele imithetho yezwe engangqubuzani nezibopho ezibalulekile abanazo kuNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 6:33; IzEnzo 5:29) UJesu wagcizelela ukungathathi hlangothi lapho ethi ngabafundi bakhe: “Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.” Kamuva wanezela: “Umbuso wami awuyona ingxenye yalelizwe.”—Johane 17:16; 18:36.
13. Uthando lufeza yiphi indima ekuvezeni abantu bakaNkulunkulu?
13 Abakhethi ‘ekusebenzeni okuhle kubo bonke.’ (Galathiya 6:10) Uthando lobuKristu alukhethi, lwamukela abantu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bangabaliphi ibala, isimo sezomnotho noma semfundo, ubuzwe noma ulimi. Ukusebenza okuhle kubo bonke, ikakhulu kulabo abahlobene nabo okholweni, kuyabaveza labo abasekelwa nguNkulunkulu. UJesu wathi: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokhu ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.”—Johane 13:35; IzEnzo 10:34, 35.
14. Ingabe abantu abavunyelwa nguNkulunkulu bahlale bamukelwa yonke indawo? Chaza.
14 Bazimisele ukushushiswa ngenxa yokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. UJesu waxwayisa abalandeli bakhe kusengaphambili: “Uma beye bangishushisa mina, bayonishushisa nani; uma beye baligcina izwi lami, bayoligcina nelenu.” (Johane 15:20; Mathewu 5:11, 12; 2 Thimothewu 3:12) Labo abasekelwa nguNkulunkulu bebelokhu bengathandwa, njengoba kwakunjalo nangoNowa, owalahla izwe ngokholo lwakhe. (Heberu 11:7) Namuhla, labo abafisa ukusekelwa nguNkulunkulu abalokothi bathambise izwi likaNkulunkulu noma bahlehle ezimisweni zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ukuze bagweme ukushushiswa. Bayazi ukuthi uma nje besakhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka, abantu ‘bayokhungatheka futhi baqhubeke bekhuluma ngabo ngokuchapha.’—1 Petru 2:12; 3:16; 4:4.
Isikhathi Sokuhlaziya Amaqiniso
15, 16. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo eyosisiza sibone iqembu lenkolo elisekelwa nguNkulunkulu? (b) Yisiphi isiphetho izigidi zabantu eziye zafinyelela kuso, futhi ngani?
15 Zibuze, ‘Yiliphi iqembu lenkolo elaziwa ngokunamathela kwalo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, ngisho nalapho izimfundiso zalo zihlukile ezinkolelweni zabantu abaningi? Obani abagcizelela ukubaluleka kwegama likaNkulunkulu, baze bazibize ngalo? Obani abanombono wekusasa eliqhakazile, bebheka uMbuso kaNkulunkulu njengowukuphela kwekhambi lazo zonke izinkinga zesintu? Obani abasekela izindinganiso zeBhayibheli zokuziphatha, yize kungase kubenze babhekwe njengabayisidala? Yiliphi iqembu elaziwa ngokungabi nabefundisi abakhokhelwayo, elimalungu awo onke angabashumayeli? Obani abanconywa ngokuba yizakhamuzi ezigcina umthetho, nakuba bengathathi hlangothi kwezombangazwe? Obani abasebenzisa isikhathi nemali yabo ngothando ekusizeni abanye bafunde ngoNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe? Futhi naphezu kwazo zonke lezi zinto ezitusekayo, obani ababukelwa phansi, bahlekwe usulu futhi bashushiswe?’
16 Izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke ziye zahlaziya amaqiniso futhi zagculiseka ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova yibo bodwa abaqhuba inkolo yeqiniso. Ziye zafinyelela kulesi siphetho ngesisekelo salokho oFakazi BakaJehova abakufundisayo nendlela abaziphatha ngayo, nangesisekelo sezinzuzo eziye zalethwa yinkolo yabo. (Isaya 48:17) Izigidi kuba sengathi zisho njengoba kubikezelwe kuZakariya 8:23: “Siyakuhamba nani, ngokuba sizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu unani.”
17. Kungani kungekona ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bayagabadela uma beveza ukuthi bayinkolo yeqiniso?
17 Ingabe oFakazi BakaJehova bayagabadela uma beveza ukuthi yibo bodwa abasekelwa nguNkulunkulu? Empeleni, kunjengalapho ama-Israyeli eGibithe esho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayewasekela naphezu kwalokho abaseGibithe ababekukholelwa, noma lapho amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala esho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesekela wona, hhayi abenkolo yobuJuda. Amaqiniso ayazikhulumela. Emazweni angu-235 oFakazi BakaJehova benza umsebenzi uJesu abikezela ukuthi abalandeli bakhe beqiniso babeyowenza esikhathini sokuphela: “Lezizindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiweyo ngenjongo yobufakazi ezizweni zonke; khona-ke ukuphela kuyofika.”—Mathewu 24:14.
18, 19. (a) Kungani kungekho sizathu sokuba oFakazi BakaJehova bayeke ukwenza umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela, yize bephikiswa? (b) IHubo 41:11 likuvuma kanjani ukuthi oFakazi basekelwa nguNkulunkulu?
18 OFakazi BakaJehova bazoqhubeka befeza lo msebenzi, bengavumeli ukushushiswa noma ukuphikiswa ukuba kuthiye umsebenzi wabo. Umsebenzi kaJehova kumelwe wenziwe, futhi uzokwenziwa. Yonke imizamo abanye abaye bayenza, ekhulwini leminyaka elidlule, yokuvimbela oFakazi ukuba bangawufezi umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu iye yagcina ihluleke ngokuphelele, ngoba uJehova wathembisa: “Asikho isikhali esenzelwa wena esiyakuphumelela, nalo lonke ulimi olukuvukelayo luyakwahlulelwa; lokhu kuyifa lezinceku zikaJehova nokulunga kwazo okuvela kimi.”—Isaya 54:17.
19 Ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova banamandla futhi bakhuthele kakhulu manje kunanini ngaphambili—yize bephikiswa emhlabeni wonke—kuwubufakazi bokuthi uJehova uyakujabulela abakwenzayo. INkosi uDavide yathi: “Ngalokho ngiyazi ukuthi uyangithanda, ngokuba isitha sami asihalalisi phezu kwami.” (IHubo 41:11; 56:9, 11) Izitha zikaNkulunkulu azisoze zakwazi ukuzihalalisela ngokunqoba abantu bakaJehova, ngoba uMholi wabo, uJesu Kristu, uphokophele phambili ekunqobeni kokugcina!
Ingabe Ungaphendula?
• Yiziphi ezinye zezibonelo zasendulo zabantu ababesekelwa nguNkulunkulu?
• Yiziphi ezinye zezimpawu eziveza inkolo yeqiniso?
• Kungani wena uqiniseka ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova basekelwa nguNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 13]
Labo abafisa ukusekelwa nguNkulunkulu kumelwe basekele izimfundiso zabo eZwini lakhe kuphela
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Abadala abangamaKristu bayizibonelo emhlambini