Ingabe ‘Uyohlale Ulindile’?
“Ngakho-ke, hlalani nilindile, ngoba anilwazi usuku noma ihora.”—MATHEWU 25:13.
1, 2. (a) Yini uJesu ayembula mayelana nezinsuku zokugcina? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?
ZAMA ukucabanga uJesu ehlezi eNtabeni Yeminqumo eyengame ithempeli laseJerusalema. Unabane babaphostoli bakhe, uPetru, u-Andreya, uJakobe noJohane. Bamlalelisisile uJesu njengoba ebalandisa isiprofetho esivusa amadlingozi sesikhathi esizayo. Lesi siprofetho sembula okwakuyokwenzeka ezinsukwini zokugcina zaleli zwe elibi lapho uJesu ebusa eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. UJesu ubatshela ukuthi ngaleso sikhathi esithakazelisayo, ‘inceku yakhe ethembekileyo neqondayo’ yayiyommelela emhlabeni futhi inikeze abalandeli bakhe ukudla okungokomoya ngesikhathi esifanele.—Mathewu 24:45-47.
2 Kuso leso siprofetho, uJesu ube eselandisa umzekeliso wezintombi eziyishumi. (Funda uMathewu 25:1-13.) Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngale mibuzo: (1) Uyini umyalezo oyisisekelo walo mzekeliso? (2) Abagcotshiweyo abathembekile basisebenzise kanjani iseluleko salo mzekeliso, futhi kunamiphi imiphumela? (3) Ngamunye wethu angazuza kanjani emzekelisweni kaJesu namuhla?
UYINI UMYALEZO WALO MZEKELISO?
3. Esikhathini esidlule, izincwadi zethu ziye zawuchaza kanjani umzekeliso wezintombi eziyishumi, futhi imuphi umphumela okungenzeka kwakuba nawo?
3 Esihlokweni esandulele, sifunde ukuthi eminyakeni yamuva, inceku ethembekile iye yalungisa indlela izindaba ezithile eziseBhayibhelini ezichazwa ngayo. Manje inceku ethembekile igxila kakhulu ezifundweni ezisebenzisekayo kunasezincazelweni ezingokomfanekiso noma ezingokwesiprofetho. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngomzekeliso kaJesu wezintombi eziyishumi. Izincwadi zethu zazithi izibani, amafutha nezitsha zawo kumelela okuthile noma othile. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi ukugxila emininingwaneni emincane kwakwenza umyalezo olula, ophuthumayo walo mzekeliso ungacaci? Impendulo yalowo mbuzo ibalulekile.
Izintombi kumelwe zibe zimi ngomumo, izibani zazo zikhanya, laphokufika umkhwenyana
4. Kulo mzekeliso, sazi kanjani ukuthi (a) ungubani umkhwenyana? (b) zingobani izintombi?
4 Ake sihlole umyalezo oyisisekelo womzekeliso kaJesu. Okokuqala, cabanga ngabantu okukhulunywa ngabo kulo mzekeliso. Ungubani umkhwenyana? NguJesu. Lokhu sikwazi ngoba ngaphambili uJesu wazibiza kanjalo. (Luka 5:34, 35) Zingobani izintombi? ‘Ziwumhlambi omncane’ wamaKristu agcotshiwe. Sazi kanjani? Emzekelisweni, izintombi kumelwe zibe zimi ngomumo, izibani zazo zikhanya, lapho kufika umkhwenyana. Manje phawula lokho uJesu akusho kubalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe: “Izinkalo zenu mazibe zibhincile nezibani zenu zivutha, nani ngokwenu nibe njengabantu abalindele inkosi yabo lapho ibuya emshadweni.” (Luka 12:32, 35, 36) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umphostoli uPawulu nomphostoli uJohane bobabili bafanisa abalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshiwe nezintombi ezimsulwa. (2 Korinte 11:2; IsAmbulo 14:4) Ngakho singabona ukuthi iseluleko nesixwayiso esikuMathewu 25:1-13 siqondiswe kubalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe.
5. UJesu wayembula kanjani inkathi umzekeliso wakhe owawuyosebenza ngayo?
5 Okwesibili, iseluleko sikaJesu sisebenza kuyiphi inkathi? Lokho uJesu akusho ngasekupheleni kwalo mzekeliso kuyasisiza sibone. Wathi: “Umkhwenyana wafika.” (Mathewu 25:10) Kuyi-Nqabayokulinda ka-July 15, 2013, safunda ukuthi isiprofetho sikaJesu esikuMathewu izahluko 24 no-25 sibhekisela ‘ekuzeni’ noma ‘ekufikeni’ kukaJesu izikhathi ezingu-8. Lapho uJesu ekhuluma ‘ngokuza’ noma ‘ukufika’ kwakhe, usuke ebhekisele esikhathini saphakathi nosizi olukhulu lapho eza ezokwahlulela futhi abhubhise leli zwe elibi. Ngakho singaphetha ngokuthi umzekeliso kaJesu usebenza ezinsukwini zokugcina, kodwa ‘uyofika’ phakathi nosizi olukhulu.
6. Uyini umyalezo oyisisekelo walo mzekeliso?
6 Imuphi umyalezo oyisisekelo esiwuthola kulo mzekeliso? Khumbula umongo walokhu kulandisa okuseBhayibhelini. KuMathewu isahluko 24, uJesu wakhuluma ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ Leyo nceku kwakuyoba iqembu elincane lamadoda agcotshiwe ayeyohola phakathi kwabalandeli bakaKristu ezinsukwini zokugcina. UJesu wawaxwayisa lawo madoda ukuba ahlale ethembekile. Esahlukweni esilandelayo, uJesu usebenzisa umzekeliso wezintombi eziyishumi ukuze eluleke bonke abalandeli bakhe abagcotshiwe ezinsukwini zokugcina. Umyalezo wakhe wawuthi ‘bahlale belindile’ ukuze bangalahlekelwa umvuzo wabo wasezulwini. (Mathewu 25:13) Manje ake sihlole lo mzekeliso sibone indlela abagcotshiweyo abaye basisebenzisa ngayo lesi seluleko.
ABAGCOTSHIWEYO BASISEBENZISE KANJANI ISELULEKO SOMZEKELISO?
7, 8. (a) Kungani izintombi ezihlakaniphile zazimi ngomumo? (b) Abagcotshiweyo bazilungiselele kanjani?
7 Emzekelisweni, uJesu ugcizelela ukuthi ngokungafani nezintombi eziyiziwula, izintombi ezihlakaniphile zazimi ngomumo lapho kufika umkhwenyana. Kungani? Ngoba zazizilungiselele futhi zilindile. Zonke lezi zintombi eziyishumi kwakudingeka zihlale ziphapheme futhi zigcine izibani zazo zikhanya ebusuku. Ngokungafani nezintombi eziyiziwula, izintombi ezinhlanu ezihlakaniphile zazizilungiselele ngoba zaphatha izibani namafutha engeziwe. AmaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile aye akulungiselela kanjani ukufika kukaJesu?
8 Abagcotshiweyo bakulungele ukufeza isabelo sabo kuze kube sekupheleni. Bayaqaphela ukuthi enkonzweni yabo kuNkulunkulu kuyodingeka badele izinto zokunethezeka zezwe likaSathane, kodwa bazimisele ukwenza kanjalo. Bazimisele ukukhonza uJehova ngobuqotho, hhayi ngoba ukuphela kuseduze, kodwa ngoba bemthanda yena neNdodana yakhe. Bagcina ubuqotho babo, abavumi ukuthonywa isimo sengqondo sezwe sokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, sokuziphatha okubi nesobugovu. Njengezintombi ezihlakaniphile ezazimi ngomumo nezibani zazo, abagcotshiweyo bayaqhubeka bekhanya bha, bekulinde ngesineke ukufika koMkhwenyana, ngisho noma engase abonakale elibala.—Filipi 2:15.
UJesu waxwayisa abagcotshiweyo ukuba bahlale bethembekile
9. (a) Isiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinikeza mayelana nokozela? (b) Abagcotshiweyo baye basabela kanjani lapho kumenyezwa: “Nangu umkhwenyana”? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)
9 Okunye okwenza izintombi ezihlakaniphile zikulungele ukufika komkhwenyana ukuthi zaziye zahlala zilindile. Kodwa emzekelisweni, zonke izintombi eziyishumi “zangquphazela zalala” lapho zilinde umkhwenyana owayebonakala elibala. Ngakho kungenzeka yini ukuba amaKristu agcotshiwe namuhla ‘alale,’ okungukuthi, athikamezeke njengoba elinde ukufika kukaKristu? Yebo. UJesu wayazi ukuthi ngisho nomuntu ozimisele nomagange angaba buthaka futhi athikamezeke njengoba elinde ukufika kwaKhe. Ngakho, amaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile aye azikhandla nakakhulu ukuze ahlale elindile. Kanjani? Emzekelisweni, zonke izintombi eziyishumi zasabela lapho kumenyezwa: “Nangu umkhwenyana!” Kodwa ezihlakaniphile kuphela ezahlala zilindile. (Mathewu 25:5, 6; 26:41) Ngokufanayo, phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina, amaKristu agcotshiwe athembekile aye asabela lapho kumenyezwa: “Nangu umkhwenyana!” Aye abamukela ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uJesu usezofika, futhi akulungele ukufika kwakhe.a (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.) Manje ake sihlole ingxenye ephethayo yomzekeliso kaJesu, egxile enkathini ethile.
EZIHLAKANIPHILE ZITHOLA UMVUZO, EZIYIZIWULA ZIYAJEZISWA
10. Imuphi umbuzo esingawubuza ngengxoxo phakathi kwezintombi ezihlakaniphile nezintombi eziyiziwula?
10 Ngasekupheleni komzekeliso, izintombi eziyiziwula zicela ezihlakaniphile ukuba ziziphe amafutha ezibani. Kodwa izintombi ezihlakaniphile ziyenqaba ukusiza. (Funda uMathewu 25:8, 9.) Kodwa kwake kwenzeka nini ukuba amaKristu agcotshiwe enqabe ukusiza umuntu oswele? Khumbula inkathi lo mzekeliso osebenza ngayo. UJesu, uMkhwenyana, uza ngasekupheleni kosizi olukhulu ezokwahlulela. Ngakho, le ngxoxo cishe ibhekisela kulokho okwenzeka ngaphambi nje kokuphela kosizi olukhulu. Kungani sisho kanjalo? Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi, abagcotshiweyo bayobe sebebekwe uphawu okokugcina.
11. (a) Yini eyokwenzeka ngaphambi nje kokuqala kosizi olukhulu? (b) Izintombi ezihlakaniphile zazisho ukuthini lapho zitshela eziyiziwula ukuba zihambe ziyozithengela amafutha?
11 Ngakho-ke, ngaphambi kokuba usizi olukhulu luqale, bonke abagcotshiweyo abathembekile abasemhlabeni bayobe sebebekwe uphawu okokugcina. (IsAmbulo 7:1-4) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, akusangatshazwa ukuthi baya ezulwini. Kodwa cabanga ngeminyaka eyandulela usizi olukhulu. Kuyokwenzekani kwabagcotshiweyo abangazange bahlale belindile futhi ababa abangathembekile? Ngeke babekwe uphawu okokugcina. Ngaleso sikhathi, kuyobe sekugcotshwe amanye amaKristu athembekile. Lapho usizi luqala, abayiziwula bangase bashaqeke ukubona ukubhujiswa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Kungenzeka kube yima beqaphela ukuthi abakulungele ukufika kukaJesu. Yini eyokwenzeka uma bengacela usizo ngaleso sikhathi? Impendulo isemzekelisweni. Izintombi ezihlakaniphile zenqaba ukunika eziyiziwula amafutha azo, zathi mazihambe ziyowathenga. Njengoba ‘kwakuphakathi kobusuku,’ kwakungekho muntu ongazithengisela. Kwase kwephuzile!
12. (a) Phakathi nosizi olukhulu, yini eyokwenzeka kunoma ibaphi ababegcotshiwe kodwa ababa abangathembekile ngaphambi kokubekwa uphawu kokugcina? (b) Yini eyokwenzeka kulabo abanjengezintombi eziyiziwula?
12 Phakathi nosizi olukhulu, abagcotshiweyo abathembekile ngeke bakwazi ukusiza noma ubani obé ongathembekile. Kuyobe sekwephuzile. Kuyokwenzekani-ke ngalabo abangathembekile? Phawula okwenzeka ezintombini eziyiziwula ezahamba zayothenga amafutha: “Umkhwenyana wafika, futhi izintombi ezazikulungele zangena naye edilini lomshado; umnyango wavalwa.” Lapho uJesu efika enkazimulweni yakhe ngasekupheleni kosizi olukhulu, uyobuthela abagcotshiweyo abathembekile ezulwini. (Mathewu 24:31; 25:10; Johane 14:1-3; 1 Thesalonika 4:17) Nokho, uJesu uyobalahla abangathembekile. Njengezintombi eziyiziwula, bangase bathi: “Mnumzane, mnumzane, sivulele!” Kodwa uJesu uyosabela kanjani? Ngokudabukisayo, uyobaphendula ngendlela ayophendula ngayo abaningi abanjengezimbuzi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, anginazi.”—Mathewu 7:21-23; 25:11, 12.
UmKristu ogcotshiwe ngamunye kumelwe akhethe ukuba ozilungiselele nolindile
13. (a) Kungani singekho isidingo sokuphetha ngokuthi abaningi babalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshiwe bayoba abangathembekile? (b) Kungani singase sithi umzekeliso kaJesu ubonisa ukuthi uyawethemba amaKristu agcotshiwe? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)
13 Ingabe uJesu wayethi abaningi babagcotshiweyo bayoba abangathembekile bese kudingeka indawo yabo ithathwe abanye? Cha. KuMathewu isahluko 24, sifunda ukuthi uJesu waxwayisa inceku ethembekile neqondayo ukuba ingaphenduki ibe inceku embi. Lokhu kwakungasho ukuthi yilokho ayelindele ukuba kwenzeke. Ngokufanayo, umzekeliso wezintombi eziyishumi uyisixwayiso. Njengoba nje izintombi ezinhlanu zaziyiziwula futhi ezinye ezinhlanu zihlakaniphile, umKristu ogcotshiwe ngamunye kumelwe akhethe ukuba ozilungiselele nolindile. Ngalé kwalokho, angaba oyisiwula, angathembeki. UPawulu wanikeza abafowabo nodadewabo abagcotshiwe isixwayiso esithi asifane. (Funda amaHebheru 6:4-9; qhathanisa noDuteronomi 30:19.) Isixwayiso sakhe sasingagwegwesi, kodwa futhi wayeqiniseka ukuthi abafowabo nodadewabo babeyowuthola umvuzo wabo. Isixwayiso somzekeliso wezintombi eziyishumi sembula ukuthi uJesu unokuqiniseka okufanayo ngabagcotshiweyo. Uyazi ukuthi ngamunye wezinceku zakhe ezigcotshiwe angahlala ethembekile futhi athole umvuzo omuhle!
“EZINYE IZIMVU” ZIKAKRISTU ZINGAZUZA KANJANI?
14. Kungani “ezinye izimvu” nazo zingazuza emzekelisweni wezintombi eziyishumi?
14 Umzekeliso kaJesu wawuqondiswe kumaKristu agcotshiwe. Kodwa ingabe “ezinye izimvu” nazo zingazuza kuwo? (Johane 10:16) Yebo! Umyalezo womzekeliso ulula: “Hlalani nilindile.” UJesu wake wathi: “Lokho engikusho kini ngikusho kubo bonke, Hlalani nilindile.” (Marku 13:37) UJesu ulindele ukuba bonke abafundi bakhe bahlale bezilungiselele futhi belindile. Wonke amaKristu angalingisa isibonelo esihle sabagcotshiweyo, ababeka inkonzo kuqala ekuphileni kwabo. Khumbula ukuthi izintombi eziyiziwula zacela ezihlakaniphile ukuba ziziphe amanye amafutha azo. Isicelo sazo asizange samukelwe. Lokho kusikhumbuza ukuthi ngamunye wethu unomthwalo wemfanelo wokuhlale ethembekile kuNkulunkulu, ezilungiselele futhi elindile. Akekho ongasenzela lokho. Ngamunye wethu uyolandisa kuMahluleli olungile, uJesu Kristu, ozofika maduze. Ngakho, kumelwe sikulungele!
Akekho ongasithwalela umthwalo wokwethembeka noma wokuhlale silindile
15. Kungani wonke amaKristu eqiniso ebheke phambili emshadweni kaKristu nomlobokazi wakhe?
15 Wonke amaKristu abheke phambili emshadweni okukhulunywa ngawo emzekelisweni kaJesu. Esikhathini esizayo, ngemva kwempi ye-Armagedoni, amaKristu agcotshiwe ayoba umlobokazi kaKristu. (IsAmbulo 19:7-9) Ngaleso sikhathi, wonke umuntu emhlabeni uyozuza kulowo mshado oyoba sezulwini. Kungani? Ngoba uqinisekisa ukuthi bonke abantu bayobuswa uhulumeni ophelele. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sinethemba lokuphila phakade ezulwini noma emhlabeni, masihlale sizimisele ukuba abazilungiselele nabalindile. Uma senza kanjalo, singajabulela ikusasa elihle uJehova asilungiselele lona!
a Emzekelisweni, kunenkathi ethile phakathi kokumemeza okuthi, “Nangu umkhwenyana!” (evesini 6) nokufika komkhwenyana (evesini 10). Phakathi nazo zonke lezi zinsuku zokugcina, abagcotshiweyo baye bahlala belindile. Baye basiqaphela isibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu, ngakho bayazi ukuthi uyabusa njengeNkosi eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Noma kunjalo, kumelwe bahlale belindile aze afike.