Okuwukuphela Kwendlela Eya Ekuphileni Okumi Phakade
“Mina ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila.”—JOHANE 14:6.
1, 2. UJesu wayifanisa nani indlela eya ekuphileni okumi phakade, futhi uyini umqondo womfanekiso wakhe?
ENTSHUMAYELWENI yakhe edumile yaseNtabeni, uJesu ufanisa indlela eya ekuphileni okumi phakade nomgwaqo umuntu angena kuwo ngesango. Phawula ukuthi uJesu ugcizelela ukuthi le ndlela eya ekuphileni ayilula, ethi: “Ngenani ngesango eliwumngcingo; ngoba ubanzi futhi uvulekile umgwaqo oholela ekubhujisweni, futhi baningi abangena ngawo; kanti liwumngcingo isango futhi unyinyekile umgwaqo oholela ekuphileni [okumi phakade], futhi bambalwa abawutholayo.”—Mathewu 7:13, 14.
2 Ingabe uyawuthola umqondo walo mfanekiso? Awembuli yini ukuthi kunomgwaqo, noma indlela, eyodwa vó eholela ekuphileni nokuthi kuyodingeka sinakisise ukuze sigweme ukuchezuka kuleyo ndlela eya ekuphileni? Khona-ke, iyiphi le ndlela okuwukuphela kwayo eya ekuphileni okumi phakade?
Indima KaJesu Kristu
3, 4. (a) IBhayibheli likubonisa kanjani ukubaluleka okukhulu kwendima kaJesu ekusindisweni kwethu? (b) UNkulunkulu wakwembula nini okokuqala ukuthi isintu singathola ukuphila okumi phakade?
3 Kusobala ukuthi uJesu unendima ebalulekile ngokuqondene naleyo ndlela, njengoba umphostoli wakhe uPetru asho: “Ayikho insindiso kunoma ubani omunye, ngoba alikho elinye igama ngaphansi kwezulu [ngaphandle kwelikaJesu] elinikwe phakathi kwabantu okumelwe sisindiswe ngalo.” (IzEnzo 4:12) Ngokufanayo, umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Isipho uNkulunkulu asinikezayo siwukuphila okumi phakade ngoKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.” (Roma 6:23) UJesu ngokwakhe wembula ukuthi okuwukuphela kwendlela eya ekuphileni okumi phakade idlula kuye, ngoba wathi: “Mina ngiyindlela neqiniso nokuphila.”—Johane 14:6.
4 Ngakho, kubalulekile ukuba samukele indima kaJesu yokwenza ukuphila okumi phakade kutholakale. Ngakho-ke, ake sihlolisise indima yakhe. Uyazi yini ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu washo nini, ngemva kokona kuka-Adamu, ukuthi isintu singaba nokuphila okumi phakade? Kwakungemva nje kokona kwakhe u-Adamu. Manje ake sihlole indlela ukulungiselelwa kukaJesu Kristu njengoMsindisi wesintu okwabikezelwa ngayo okokuqala.
INzalo Ethenjisiwe
5. Singathola kanjani ukuthi ingubani inyoka eyayenga u-Eva?
5 UJehova uNkulunkulu wakhuluma ngalo Msindisi othenjisiwe ngolimi olungokomfanekiso. Lokhu wakwenza lapho egweba “inyoka” eyayikhulume no-Eva futhi yamlingela ukuba angamlaleli uNkulunkulu ngokudla isithelo esasenqatshelwe. (Genesise 3:1-5) Yiqiniso, leyo nyoka kwakungeyona inyoka engokoqobo. Kwakuyisidalwa somoya esinamandla, eBhayibhelini esibizwa ngokuthi “inyoka yokuqala, lowo obizwa ngokuthi uDeveli noSathane.” (IsAmbulo 12:9) USathane wasebenzisa lesi silwane esiphansi njengomkhulumeli wakhe ukuze ayenge u-Eva. Ngakho, lapho egweba uSathane, uNkulunkulu wathi kuye: “Ngizakubeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nowesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe. Yona [inzalo yowesifazane] iyakuchoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyakulimaza isithende sayo.”—Genesise 3:15.
6, 7. (a) Ungubani owesifazane oveza ‘inzalo’? (b) Ubani oyiNzalo ethenjisiwe, futhi yini ayifezayo?
6 Ubani lona “wesifazane” uSathane amzondayo? Njengoba nje “inyoka yokuqala” ichaziwe kusAmbuloisahluko 12, nalona wesifazane ozondwa nguSathane uchaziwe kuso. Phawula ukuthi evesini 1 kuthiwa ‘uhlobe ngelanga, umi phezu kwenyanga, futhi unezinkanyezi eziyishumi nambili ekhanda lakhe.’ Lona wesifazane umelela inhlangano kaNkulunkulu yasezulwini yezingelosi ezithembekile, bese kuthi “umntwana wesilisa” amzalayo amelele uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu abusa kuwo njengeNkosi.—IsAmbulo 12:1-5, The Jerusalem Bible.
7 Ngubani-ke lona ‘oyinzalo’ yowesifazane, okukhulunywa ngayo kuGenesise 3:15, eyochoboza uSathane ‘ekhanda,’ ngaleyo ndlela imbulale? Yilowo uNkulunkulu amthumela evela ezulwini ukuba azalwe yincasakazi ngokuyisimangaliso, yebo, indoda enguJesu. (Mathewu 1:18-23; Johane 6:38) Isahluko 12sesAmbulo sembula ukuthi njengoMbusi wasezulwini ovusiwe, le Nzalo, uJesu Kristu, yayiyohola ekunqobeni uSathane bese imisa ‘umbuso kaNkulunkulu wethu negunya likaKristu wakhe,’ njengoba kusho isAmbulo 12:10.
8. (a) Iyiphi into entsha uNkulunkulu ayilungiselela ngokuphathelene nenjongo yakhe yokuqala? (b) Obani abakha uhulumeni omusha kaNkulunkulu?
8 Ngakho, lo Mbuso osezandleni zikaJesu Kristu uyinto entsha uNkulunkulu ayilungiselela ngokuqondene nenjongo yakhe yokuqala yokuba abantu bajabulele ukuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni. Ngemva kokuvukela kukaSathane, ngokushesha uJehova wathatha isinyathelo sokulungisa yonke imiphumela emibi yokonakala ngalo hulumeni omusha woMbuso. Ngenkathi uJesu esemhlabeni wembula ukuthi wayeyobe engeyedwa ekuphatheni lo hulumeni. (Luka 22:28-30) Kwakuyokhethwa nabanye esintwini, futhi laba babeyokuya kuye ezulwini bayohlanganyela naye ekubuseni, ngaleyo ndlela bakhe ingxenye yesibili yenzalo yowesifazane. (Galathiya 3:16, 29) EBhayibhelini inani lalabo abayoba ababusi abakanye noJesu—bonke abathathwe esintwini esinesono emhlabeni—kuthiwa lingu-144 000.—IsAmbulo 14:1-3.
9. (a) Kungani uJesu kwakudingeka eze emhlabeni engumuntu? (b) UJesu wayiqeda kanjani imisebenzi kaDeveli?
9 Nokho, ungakaqali ukubusa lowo Mbuso, kwakubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ingxenye eyinhloko yenzalo, uJesu Kristu, ize emhlabeni. Ngani? Ngoba yayikhethwe nguJehova uNkulunkulu njengaLowo ‘ozobhidliza [noma, ozoqeda] imisebenzi kaDeveli.’ (1 Johane 3:8) Le misebenzi kaSathane yayihlanganisa nokuyengela u-Adamu ekoneni, okwabangela ukuba yonke inzalo ka-Adamu ithole isahlulelo sesono nokufa. (Roma 5:12) UJesu waqeda lo msebenzi kaDeveli ngokunikela ngokuphila kwaKhe njengesihlengo. Kanjalo wanikeza isisekelo sokukhululwa kwesintu esahlulelweni sesono nokufa futhi wavula indlela eya ekuphileni okumi phakade.—Mathewu 20:28; Roma 3:24; Efesu 1:7.
Lokho Okufezwa Yisihlengo
10. UJesu no-Adamu babefana ngani?
10 Njengoba ukuphila kwakhe kwasuswa ezulwini kwafakwa esibelethweni sowesifazane, uJesu wazalwa engumuntu ophelele, engangcolisiwe yisono sika-Adamu. Wayengase akwazi ukuphila phakade emhlabeni. Ngokufanayo, u-Adamu wayedalwe engumuntu ophelele nonethemba lokujabulela ukuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni. Umphostoli uPawulu wayecabanga ngokufana kwala madoda amabili lapho ebhala: “‘Umuntu wokuqala u-Adamu waba umphefumulo ophilayo.’ U-Adamu wokugcina [uJesu Kristu] waba umoya onika ukuphila. Umuntu wokuqala uvela emhlabeni futhi wenziwe ngothuli; umuntu wesibili uvela ezulwini.”—1 Korinte 15:45, 47.
11. (a) U-Adamu noJesu baba naliphi ithonya esintwini? (b) Kumelwe siwubheke kanjani umhlatshelo kaJesu?
11 Ukufana kwalaba bantu ababili—okuwukuphela kwamadoda amabili aphelele kuwo wonke ake aphila kulo mhlaba—kugcizelelwa amazwi eBhayibheli athi uJesu “wazinikela waba isihlengo esihambelanayo sabo bonke.” (1 Thimothewu 2:6) UJesu wayehambelana nobani? No-Adamu, ngesikhathi esengumuntu ophelele! Isono sika-Adamu wokuqala saholela ekutheni wonke umkhaya wesintu uthole isahlulelo sokufa. Umhlatshelo ‘ka-Adamu wokugcina’ unikeza isisekelo sokukhululwa esonweni nasekufeni, ukuze sikwazi ukuphila phakade. Yeka indlela oyigugu ngayo umhlatshelo kaJesu! Umphostoli uPetru wathi: “Anikhululwanga ngezinto ezonakalayo, ngesiliva noma igolide.” Kunalokho, uPetru wachaza: “Kwakungegazi eliyigugu, njengalelo lewundlu elingenasici nelingenabala, yebo likaKristu.”—1 Petru 1:18, 19.
12. IBhayibheli liyichaza kanjani indlela esiyoqedwa ngayo isahlulelo sethu sokufa?
12 IBhayibheli liyichaza kahle indlela esiyoqedwa ngayo isahlulelo sokufa emkhayeni wesintu, lithi: “Ngesiphambeko esisodwa [sika-Adamu] umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo waba ukulahlwa, ngokufanayo futhi ngesenzo esisodwa sokuzibonakalisa elungile [inkambo kaJesu yokwethembeka iyonke, eyaphetha ngokufa kwakhe] umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo uwukuba kuthiwe balungile kube ukuphila. Ngoba njengoba nje ngokungalaleli komuntu oyedwa [u-Adamu] abaningi baba izoni, ngokufanayo futhi ngokulalela komuntu oyedwa [uJesu] abaningi bayoba abalungileyo.”—Roma 5:18, 19.
Ithemba Elikhazimulayo
13. Kungani abaningi bezizwa ngendlela abazizwa ngayo ngokuphila phakade?
13 Leli lungiselelo likaNkulunkulu kufanele lisijabulise kakhulu! Awujabuli yini ngokuthi kuye kwalungiselelwa uMsindisi? Ekuhloleni okwake kwenziwa yiphephandaba edolobheni elikhulu laseMelika, lapho kubuzwa ukuthi, “Ingabe ithemba lokuphila okuphakade liyakukhanga?” inani elimangalisayo labantu abangamaphesenti angu-67,4 laphendula ngokuthi, “Cha.” Kungani lathi alifuni ukuphila phakade? Ngokusobala kungoba ukuphila emhlabeni kunezinkinga eziningi kakhulu manje. Omunye umuntu wathi: “Angikujabuleli ukucabanga indlela engingabukeka ngayo lapho sengineminyaka engu-200.”
14. Kungani ukuphila phakade kuyojabulisa ngokuphelele?
14 Nokho, iBhayibheli alikhulumi ngokuphila phakade emhlabeni lapho abantu behlushwa khona yizifo, ukuguga nezinye izinsizi. Cha, ngoba njengoMbusi woMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uJesu uyoziqeda zonke izinkinga ezinjalo ezabangelwa uSathane. NgokweBhayibheli, uMbuso kaNkulunkulu “uyakuchoboza, uqede [bonke]” ohulumeni baleli lizwe abacindezelayo. (Daniyeli 2:44) Ngaleso sikhathi, ‘intando [kaNkulunkulu] iyokwenziwa emhlabeni njengoba yenziwa ezulwini,’ kuphendulwa umthandazo uJesu awufundisa abalandeli bakhe. (Mathewu 6:9, 10, Today’s English Version) Ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu, sekususwe bonke ububi emhlabeni, kuyosetshenziswa izinzuzo zomhlatshelo kaJesu ngokugcwele. Yebo, bonke abafanelekayo bayobuyiselwa empilweni ephelele!
15, 16. Yiziphi izimo eziyoba khona ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
15 Kubantu abayobe bephila ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu, kuyosebenza le ndima yeBhayibheli: “Inyama yakhe ibe ntsha kuneyomntwana, abuyele emihleni yobusha bakhe.” (Jobe 33:25) Kuyogcwaliseka nesinye isithembiso seBhayibheli: “Amehlo ezimpumputhe ayakuvulwa, zivuleke nezindlebe zezithulu. Khona unyonga luyakutshekula njengendluzele, nolimi lwesimungulu luyakuhuba.”—Isaya 35:5, 6.
16 Cabanga nje: Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sineminyaka emingaki ubudala, engu-80, 800, ngisho nangaphezulu, imizimba yethu iyohlale inobungqabavu. Kuyoba njengoba iBhayibheli lithembisa: “Abakhé khona abayikusho ukuthi: ‘Ngiyagula.’” Ngaleso sikhathi kuyogcwaliseka nalesi sithembiso: “[UNkulunkulu] uyosula zonke izinyembezi emehlweni aso, futhi ukufa ngeke kusaba khona, noma ukulila noma ukukhala noma ubuhlungu ngeke kusaba khona. Izinto zangaphambili zidlulile.”—Isaya 33:24; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
17. Yiziphi izinto esingase silindele ukuthi abantu bayozifeza ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
17 Kulelo lizwe elisha, siyokwazi ukusebenzisa ubuchopho bethu obumangalisayo ngendlela uMdali wethu ayeyihlosile lapho ebuklama bunekhono lokufunda elingenamkhawulo. Ake ucabange nje ngezinto ezimangalisayo esingase sizifeze! Ngisho nabantu abangaphelele baye bakhiqiza konke okusizungezile besebenzisa inqwaba yezinto ezisemhlabeni—izingcingo eziphathwayo, izikhulisazwi, amawashi, ama-pager, ama-computer, izindiza, yebo nokunye ongase ukucabange. Akukho nokukodwa okwenziwe ngezinto abazithathe endaweni ethile ekude engekho kulo mhlaba. Njengoba siyobe sinokuphila okungapheli, imisebenzi esingase siyifeze ePharadesi elizayo lasemhlabeni iyobe ingenamkhawulo!—Isaya 65:21-25.
18. Kungani ukuphila ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu kungasoze kwacika?
18 Futhi ukuphila ngeke kube okucikayo. Njengamanje siye sibheke phambili ekudleni ukudla okulandelayo, nakuba kungenzeka sesadla kaninginingi. Lapho sesingabantu abaphelele, siyoyijabulela ngezinga eliphakeme imikhiqizo emnandi yomhlaba oyiPharadesi. (Isaya 25:6) Futhi siyoba nenjabulo yaphakade yokunakekela izilwane eziningi ezisemhlabeni nokujabulela ukushona kwelanga okukhexisayo, izintaba, imifula nezigodi. Ngempela, ukuphila ngeke kube nesicefe ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu!—IHubo 145:16.
Ukuhlangabezana Nezimfuneko ZikaNkulunkulu
19. Kungani kunengqondo ukukholelwa ukuthi kunezimfuneko zokuthola isipho sikaNkulunkulu sokuphila?
19 Ingabe ubungalindela ukuthola isipho esihle sikaNkulunkulu sokuphila okumi phakade ePharadesi ungazange wenze lutho? Akukhona yini okunengqondo ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyofuna okuthile? Ngokuqinisekile kunengqondo. Empeleni, uNkulunkulu akamane nje asigidlabeze ngalesi sipho. Usibeka phambi kwethu, kodwa thina kumelwe selule isandla sisithathe. Yebo, kudingeka umzamo. Ungase ubuze wona kanye umbuzo umbusi ocebile osemusha awubuza uJesu: “Buhle buni okumelwe ngibenze ukuze ngithole ukuphila okumi phakade?” Noma lo mbuzo ungase uwubuze ngendlela umgcini wejele waseFilipi awubuza umphostoli uPawulu ngayo: “Yini okumelwe ngiyenze ukuze ngisindiswe?”—Mathewu 19:16; IzEnzo 16:30.
20. Iyiphi imfuneko ebaluleke kakhulu yokuphila okumi phakade?
20 Ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe, uJesu wabonisa imfuneko eyisisekelo lapho ethandaza kuYise wasezulwini ethi: “Lokhu kusho ukuphila okumi phakade, ukungenisa kwabo ulwazi ngawe, owukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, nangalowo owamthuma, uJesu Kristu.” (Johane 17:3) Akuyona yini imfuneko efanelekayo ukungenisa ulwazi ngoJehova, owenza ukuphila okumi phakade kwatholakala, nolwazi ngalowo owasifela, uJesu Kristu? Nokho, kudingeka okungaphezu nje kokungenisa lolo lwazi.
21. Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi siyahlangabezana nemfuneko yokubonisa ukholo?
21 IBhayibheli lithi futhi: “Lowo obonisa ukholo eNdodaneni unokuphila okumi phakade.” Libe selinezela: “Lowo ongayilaleli iNdodana ngeke akubone ukuphila, kodwa ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luhlezi phezu kwakhe.” (Johane 3:36) Ungabonisa ukuthi unokholo eNdodaneni ngokwenza izinguquko ekuphileni kwakho nokukuvumelanisa nentando kaNkulunkulu. Kumelwe ushiye noma iyiphi inkambo engalungile okungenzeka wawuyilandela bese uthatha isinyathelo sokwenza okujabulisa uNkulunkulu. Kudingeka wenze lokho umphostoli uPetru ayala ukuba kwenziwe: “Ngakho-ke, phendukani futhi niguquke ukuze kusulwe izono zenu, ukuze izinkathi zokuqabuleka zifike zivela ebusweni bukaJehova.”—IzEnzo 3:19.
22. Kuhilela ziphi izenzo ukulandela ezinyathelweni zikaJesu?
22 Kwangathi singelokothe sikhohlwe ukuthi ukuphila okumi phakade singakuthola kuphela ngokubonisa ukholo kuJesu. (Johane 6:40; 14:6) Sibonisa ukuthi sinokholo kuJesu ‘ngokulandela izinyathelo zakhe eduze.’ (1 Petru 2:21) Kuhilelani ukwenza lokho? Lapho ethandaza kuNkulunkulu, uJesu wathi: ‘Bheka! Ngizile ukuba ngenze intando yakho, O Nkulunkulu.’ (Heberu 10:7) Kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ulingise uJesu ngokuvuma ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi unikezele ukuphila kwakho kuJehova. Ngemva kwalokho kudingeka ubonise lokho kuzinikezela ngobhapathizo lwamanzi; noJesu waziletha ukuba abhapathizwe. (Luka 3:21, 22) Ukuthatha izinyathelo ezinjalo kunengqondo ngokuphelele. Umphostoli uPawulu waphawula ukuthi “uthando uKristu analo luyasiphoqelela.” (2 Korinte 5:14, 15) Kanjani? Uthando lwashukumisela uJesu ukuba anikele ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu. Akufanele yini lokho kusiphoqelele ukuba sisabele ngokubonisa ukholo kuye? Yebo, kufanele kusiphoqelele ukuba silandele isibonelo sakhe sothando sokuzidela ukuze asize abanye. UKristu wayephilela ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu; kumelwe senze okufanayo, singabe sisaziphilela.
23. (a) Kumelwe banezelwephi labo abathola ukuphila? (b) Kudingekani kulabo abasebandleni lobuKristu?
23 Akupheleli lapho. IBhayibheli lithi lapho abangu-3 000 bebhapathizwa ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., ‘benezelwa.’ Benezelwa kuphi? ULuka uyachaza: ‘Baqhubeka bezinikela ekufundiseni kwabaphostoli nasekwabelaneni izinto omunye nomunye.’ (IzEnzo 2:41, 42) Yebo, babehlangana ndawonye ngenjongo yokutadisha iBhayibheli nokuba nobudlelwane futhi ngaleyo ndlela banezelwa, noma baba yingxenye yebandla lobuKristu. AmaKristu okuqala ayeya njalo emihlanganweni ukuze afundiswe ngokomoya. (Heberu 10:25) NoFakazi BakaJehova namuhla bayakwenza lokhu, futhi bangathanda ukukukhuthaza ukuba uye nabo kule mihlangano.
24. Kuyini “ukuphila kwangempela,” futhi kuyotholakala kanjani futhi nini?
24 Izigidi manje zihamba kulo mgwaqo onyinyekile oholela ekuphileni. Kudinga umzamo wangempela ukuhlala ukulo mgwaqo onyinyekile! (Mathewu 7:13, 14) UPawulu wakuveza lokhu lapho enxusa ngemfudumalo: “Yilwa ukulwa okuhle kokholo, bambisisa ukuphila okuphakade owabizelwa khona.” Kudingeka ulwe ukuze ‘ubambisise ukuphila kwangempela.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:12, 19) Lokho kuphila akukhona lokhu kuphila okunezinhlungu nokuhlupheka, esakulethelwa yisono sika-Adamu. Kunalokho, kuwukuphila ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu, okuzotholakala maduze lapho kusetshenziswa umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaKristu ngenxa yabo bonke abathandi bakaJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe, ngemva kokuba kususwe lesi simiso sezinto. Kwangathi sonke singakhetha ukuphila—“ukuphila kwangempela”—ukuphila okumi phakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu elikhazimulayo.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Ingubani inyoka, owesifazane nenzalo kaGenesise 3:15?
◻ UJesu wayehambelana no-Adamu ngayiphi indlela, futhi yini isihlengo esayenza yatholakala?
◻ Yini ongabheka phambili kuyo eyokwenza izwe elisha likaNkulunkulu lijabulise kakhulu kuwe?
◻ Yiziphi izimfuneko okudingeka sihlangabezane nazo ukuze siphile ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Kwabancane nabadala, uJesu uwukuphela kwendlela eya ekuphileni okungenakuphela
[Isithombe ekhasini 11]
Ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, abagugile bayobuyela ebungqabavwini bobusha