Lolu Usuku Lwensindiso!
“Bhekani! Manje yiso isikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile. Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.”—2 KORINTE 6:2.
1. Yini edingekayo ukuze umuntu abe nokuma okuhle noNkulunkulu noKristu?
UJEHOVA ubeke usuku lokwahlulela isintu. (IzEnzo 17:31) Ukuze lube usuku lwensindiso kithi, kudingeka sibe nokuma okwamukelekayo kuye nakuMahluleli wakhe omisiwe, uJesu Kristu. (Johane 5:22) Ukuma okunjalo kudinga ukuziphatha okuvumelana neZwi likaNkulunkulu nokholo olusiqhubela ekubeni sisize abanye babe abafundi bakaJesu beqiniso.
2. Kungani izwe lesintu lihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu?
2 Ngenxa yesono elisizuze njengefa, izwe lesintu lihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu. (Roma 5:12; Efesu 4:17, 18) Ngakho-ke, labo esibashumayezayo bangathola insindiso kuphela uma bebuyisana naye. Umphostoli uPawulu wakwenza kwacaca lokhu lapho ebhalela amaKristu aseKorinte. Ake sihlole eyesi-2 Korinte 5:10–6:10 ukuze sibone ukuthi uPawulu wathini ngokwahlulela, ukubuyisana noNkulunkulu nangensindiso.
“Siqhubeka Sithonya Abantu”
3. UPawulu ‘waqhubeka’ kanjani ‘ethonya abantu,’ futhi kungani kufanele senze lokhu namuhla?
3 UPawulu wahlobanisa ukwahlulela nokushumayela lapho ebhala: “Sonke kumelwe sibonakaliswe phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sikaKristu, ukuze ngamunye athole umklomelo wakhe ngezinto ezenziwe ngomzimba, ngokwezinto azenze umkhuba, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zinhle noma zimbi. Ngakho-ke, njengoba sikwazi ukwesaba iNkosi, siqhubeka sithonya abantu.” (2 Korinte 5:10, 11) Lo mphostoli ‘wayeqhubeka ethonya abantu’ ngokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Kuthiwani ngathi? Njengoba sibhekene nokuphela kwalesi simiso sezinto esibi, kufanele senze okusemandleni ethu ekuthonyeni abanye ukuba bathathe izinyathelo ezidingekayo ukuze bathole isahlulelo esihle kuJesu futhi bamukeleke eMthonjeni wensindiso, uJehova uNkulunkulu.
4, 5. (a) Kungani kungafanele siziqhayise ngalokho esikufezayo enkonzweni kaJehova? (b) UPawulu wayeziqhayisa kanjani ngenxa kaNkulunkulu?
4 Nokho, uma uNkulunkulu eye wayibusisa inkonzo yethu, akufanele siziqhayise. EKorinte abanye babekhukhumele ngokuziqhenya noma ngokuqhosha ngabanye, kanjalo bebangela ukuhlukana ebandleni. (1 Korinte 1:10-13; 3:3, 4) Ebhekisela kulesi simo, uPawulu wabhala: “Akukhona ukuthi siyaphinda futhi siyazitusa kini, kodwa sininika ithuba lokuziqhayisa ngokuqondene nathi, ukuze nibe nempendulo kulabo abaziqhayisa ngokubonakala kwangaphandle kodwa hhayi ngenhliziyo. Ngoba uma sasihlanya, sasihlanyela uNkulunkulu; uma siphilile engqondweni, sihluzekele nina.” (2 Korinte 5:12, 13) Ababezidla babengenasithakazelo ebunyeni nasenhlalakahleni engokomoya yebandla. Babefuna ukuziqhayisa ngokubonakala kwangaphandle esikhundleni sokusiza abakholwa nabo ukuba babe nezinhliziyo ezinhle phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, uPawulu walisola leli bandla futhi kamuva wathi: “Lowo oziqhayisayo, makaziqhayise ngoJehova.”—2 Korinte 10:17.
5 Ingabe uPawulu yena wayengaziqhayisi? Abanye kungenzeka babecabanga kanjalo ngenxa yalokho akusho ngokuba umphostoli. Kodwa kwakumelwe aziqhayisele uNkulunkulu. Waziqhayisa ngezimfanelo zakhe zokuba umphostoli, ukuze abaseKorinte bangamshiyi uJehova. Lokhu uPawulu wakwenza ukuze ababuyisele kuNkulunkulu ngoba abaphostoli bamanga babebanhlanhlathisa. (2 Korinte 11:16-21; 12:11, 12, 19-21; 13:10) Nokho, uPawulu wayengahlali ezama ukuhlaba wonke umuntu umxhwele ngalokho ayekufeza.—IzAga 21:4.
Ingabe Uthando LukaKristu Luyakuphoqelela?
6. Uthando lukaKristu kufanele lusithinte kanjani?
6 Njengomphostoli weqiniso, uPawulu wafundisa abanye ngomhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu. Wawunethonya ekuphileni kukaPawulu, ngoba wabhala: “Uthando uKristu analo luyasiphoqelela, ngoba yilokhu esikwahlulele, ukuthi umuntu oyedwa wafela bonke; ngakho-ke, bonke bafile; futhi wafela bonke ukuze labo abaphilayo bangabe besaziphilela bona, kodwa baphilele yena owabafela futhi wavuswa.” (2 Korinte 5:14, 15) Yeka uthando uJesu alubonisa ngokunikela ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu! Ngokuqinisekile lokho kufanele kube amandla asiphoqelelayo ekuphileni kwethu. Umuzwa wokumbonga uJesu ngokunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu kufanele usishukumisele ukuba sisebenze ngentshiseko ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle zensindiso enikezwa nguJehova ngeNdodana yakhe ethandekayo. (Johane 3:16; qhathanisa neHubo 96:2.) Ingabe “uthando uKristu analo” luyakuphoqelela ukuba uhlanganyele ngentshiseko emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi?—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
7. Kusho ukuthini ‘ukungazi muntu ngokwenyama’?
7 Ngokusebenzisa ukuphila kwabo ngendlela ebonisa umuzwa wokumbonga uKristu ngalokho abenzela kona, abagcotshiweyo ‘ababe besaziphilela bona, kodwa baphilela yena.’ UPawulu wathi: “Ngenxa yalokho kusukela manje kuqhubeke asazi muntu ngokwenyama. Ngisho noma siye samazi uKristu ngokwenyama, ngokuqinisekile manje asisamazi kanjalo.” (2 Korinte 5:16) AmaKristu akumelwe abheke abantu ngendlela engokwenyama, mhlawumbe akhethe amaJuda kunabeZizwe noma abacebile kunabampofu. Abagcotshiweyo ‘abazi muntu ngokwenyama,’ ngoba okubalulekile ubuhlobo babo obungokomoya nabakholwa nabo. Labo ‘abamazi ngokwenyama uKristu’ kwakungebona nje abantu ababona uJesu ngenkathi esemhlabeni. Ngisho noma ngabe abathile ababethembele kuMesiya babeke babheka uKristu njengongumuntu wenyama, kwakungasafanele benze kanjalo. Wanikela ngomzimba wakhe waba yisihlengo futhi wavuswa engumoya onikeza ukuphila. Abanye abavuselwa ekuphileni kwasezulwini babeyohlukana nemizimba yabo yenyama bengakaze bambone uJesu Kristu engumuntu wenyama.—1 Korinte 15:45, 50; 2 Korinte 5:1-5.
8. Abantu ngabanye baye baba kanjani “sebunyeni noKristu”?
8 Eqhubeka ekhuluma nabagcotshiwe, uPawulu uyenezela: “Uma noma ubani esebunyeni noKristu, uyindalo entsha; izinto ezindala zadlula, bheka! sekukhona izinto ezintsha.” (2 Korinte 5:17) Ukuba “sebunyeni noKristu” kusho ukuba munye naye. (Johane 17:21) Lobu buhlobo umuntu wabuthola lapho uJehova emdonsela eNdodaneni yakhe futhi emzala ngomoya ongcwele. Njengendodana kaNkulunkulu ezelwe ngomoya, waba “yindalo entsha” enethemba lokuba kanye noKristu eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Johane 3:3-8; 6:44; Galathiya 4:6, 7) AmaKristu agcotshiwe anjalo aye anikwa ilungelo lenkonzo elikhulu.
“Buyisanani NoNkulunkulu”
9. Yini uNkulunkulu aye wayenza ukuze enze kwenzeke ukubuyisana naye?
9 Yeka indlela uJehova aye wayibonisa umusa ngayo “indalo entsha”! UPawulu uthi: “Zonke izinto zivela kuNkulunkulu, owasenza sabuyisana naye ngoKristu futhi wasinika inkonzo yokubuyisana, ewukuthi, uNkulunkulu ngoKristu wayenza izwe libuyisane naye, engalibaleli iziphambeko zalo, futhi uliphathise thina izwi lokubuyisana.” (2 Korinte 5:18, 19) Isintu sasilokhu sihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu kusukela u-Adamu ona. Kodwa ngothando uJehova wathatha isinyathelo kuqala wavula indlela yokubuyisana ngomhlatshelo kaJesu.—Roma 5:6-12.
10. UJehova wayiphathisa obani inkonzo yokubuyisana, futhi yini abaye bayenza ukuze bayifeze?
10 UJehova uye waphathisa abagcotshiwe inkonzo yokubuyisana, ngakho uPawulu wayengathi: “Ngakho-ke singamanxusa abambele uKristu, njengokungathi uNkulunkulu uncenga ngathi. Njengababambeli bakaKristu siyancenga: ‘Buyisanani noNkulunkulu.’” (2 Korinte 5:20) Ezikhathini zasendulo, amanxusa ayethunyelwa ngokuyinhloko ngezikhathi zokulwa, ukuze kubonakale ukuthi impi ingagwenywa yini. (Luka 14:31, 32) Njengoba izwe lesintu elinesono lihlukanisiwe noNkulunkulu, uye wathumela amanxusa akhe agcotshiwe ukuba azise abantu ngemibandela yakhe yokubuyisana. Njengababambeli bakaKristu, abagcotshiwe bayancenga: “Buyisanani noNkulunkulu.” Lokhu kuncenga kuwukunxusa ngomusa ukuba kufunwe ukuthula noNkulunkulu futhi kwamukelwe insindiso ayenza itholakale ngoKristu.
11. Ngokuba nokholo esihlengweni, obani ekugcineni abathola ukuma okulungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu?
11 Bonke abantu ababonisa ukholo esihlengweni bangabuyisana noNkulunkulu. (Johane 3:36) UPawulu uthi: “Lowo [uJesu] owayengasazi isono [uJehova] wamenza waba isono ngenxa yethu, ukuze ngaye sibe ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 5:21) Umuntu ophelele uJesu waba umhlatshelo wesono wabo bonke abayinzalo ka-Adamu abakhululwa ekoneni abazalwa nako. Baba “ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu” ngoJesu. Lokhu kulunga, noma ukuma okulungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kutholwa kuqala izindlalifa ezikanye noKristu ezingu-144 000. Phakathi nokuBusa kwakhe Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, ukuma okulungile njengabantu abaphelele kuyotholwa yizingane zasemhlabeni zikaBaba Ongunaphakade, uJesu Kristu. Uyoziphakamisa zibe nokuma okulungile ziphelele ukuze zikwazi ukuzibonakalisa zithembekile kuNkulunkulu bese zithola isipho sokuphila okumi phakade.—Isaya 9:6; IsAmbulo 14:1; 20:4-6, 11-15.
“Isikhathi Esamukeleka Ngokukhethekile”
12. Iyiphi inkonzo ebalulekile efezwa amanxusa nezithunywa zikaJehova?
12 Ukuze sisindiswe, kumelwe senze ngokuvumelana namazwi kaPawulu: “Njengoba sisebenza kanye naye [uJehova], siyanincenga futhi ukuba ningawamukeli umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu bese nilahlekelwa injongo yawo. Ngoba yena uthi: ‘Ngesikhathi esamukelekayo ngakuzwa, nangosuku lwensindiso ngakusiza.’ Bhekani! Manje yiso isikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile. Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.” (2 Korinte 6:1, 2) Amanxusa kaJehova agcotshiwe nezithunywa zakhe, “ezinye izimvu,” abamukeli umusa ongafanelwe kaYise osezulwini bese belahlekelwa yinjongo yawo. (Johane 10:16) Ngokuziphatha kwabo okuqotho nenkonzo yabo yentshiseko kulesi “sikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile,” bafuna umusa waphezulu futhi bazisa izakhamuzi zasemhlabeni ukuthi lolu “usuku lwensindiso.”
13. Uyini umnyombo ka-Isaya 49:8, futhi wagcwaliseka kanjani okokuqala?
13 UPawulu ucaphuna u-Isaya 49:8, othi: “Usho kanje uJehova, uthi: Ngiyakuphendula ngesikhathi somusa, ngosuku lokusindiswa ngiyakusiza; ngiyakukulondoloza, ngikubeke ube-yisivumelwano sabantu sokubuyisa izwe nokubenza badle amafa achithekileyo.” Lesi siprofetho sagcwaliseka okokuqala lapho abantu bakwa-Israyeli bekhululwa ebugqilini baseBabiloni futhi kamuva bephindela ezweni lakubo elase liyincithakalo.—Isaya 49:3, 9.
14. U-Isaya 49:8 wagcwaliseka kanjani kuJesu?
14 Ekugcwalisekeni okuqhubekayo kwesiprofetho sika-Isaya, uJehova wanikela ‘ngenceku’ yakhe uJesu ukuba ibe ‘ukukhanya kwabezizwe, ukuze insindiso kaNkulunkulu ize ibe-semkhawulweni womhlaba.’ (Isaya 49:6, 8; qhathanisa no-Isaya 42:1-4, 6, 7; Mathewu 12:18-21.) ‘Isikhathi somusa,’ noma ‘isikhathi esamukelekayo,’ ngokusobala siyisikhathi lapho uJesu ayesemhlabeni. Wathandaza, futhi uNkulunkulu ‘wamphendula.’ Lolo kwaba “usuku lwensindiso” kuJesu ngoba walondoloza ubuqotho ngokuphelele futhi ngenxa yalokho “waba isisusa sensindiso emi phakade kubo bonke abamlalelayo.”—Heberu 5:7, 9; Johane 12:27, 28.
15. Ama-Israyeli angokomoya aye azama ukuzibonakalisa ewufanelekela umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu kusukela nini, futhi ngayiphi injongo?
15 UPawulu usebenzisa u-Isaya 49:8 kumaKristu agcotshiwe, ewanxusa ukuba ‘angalahlekelwa injongo yomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu’ ngokuhluleka ukufuna umusa wakhe ‘ngesikhathi esamukelekayo’ ‘nangosuku lwensindiso’ alunikezayo. UPawulu uyenezela: “Bhekani! Manje yiso isikhathi esamukeleka ngokukhethekile. Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.” (2 Korinte 6:2) Kusukela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., ama-Israyeli angokomoya aye azama ukuzibonakalisa ewufanelekela umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu ukuze ‘isikhathi esamukelekayo’ sibe “usuku lwensindiso” kuwo.
‘Ukuzitusa Njengezikhonzi ZikaNkulunkulu’
16. UPawulu wazitusa njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo ezivivinyayo?
16 Amanye amadoda ayehlanganyela ebandleni laseKorinte ayengazibonakalisi ewufanelekela umusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu. Ayenyundela uPawulu ezama ukucekela phansi igunya lakhe njengomphostoli, nakuba ayekugwema ‘ukunikeza isizathu sokukhubeka.’ Ngokuqinisekile wayezitusa njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu “ngokukhuthazelela okuningi, ngezinsizi, ngokuswela, ngobunzima, ngokushaywa, ngamatilongo, ngeziyaluyalu, ngemishikashika, ngokuqwasha ebusuku, ngezikhathi zokungabi nakudla.” (2 Korinte 6:3-5) Kamuva, uPawulu wathi uma abaphikisi bakhe babeyizikhonzi, yena ‘wayeyiso ngokuvelele kakhulu’ ngenxa yokubhekana nokuboshwa, ukushaywa, izingozi nokuswela okwengeziwe.—2 Korinte 11:23-27.
17. (a) Yiziphi izimfanelo okungathi ngokuzibonisa sizituse njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu? (b) Ziyini ‘izikhali zokulunga’?
17 NjengoPawulu nawozakwabo, singazitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu. Kanjani? “Ngokuhlanzeka,” noma ubumsulwa, nangokwenza ngokuvumelana nolwazi olunembile lweBhayibheli. Singazitusa “ngokubhekakade,” sikhuthazelele ngesineke ukoniwa noma ukucasulwa, sizituse ‘nangomusa’ lapho senzela abanye izinto eziwusizo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, singazitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ngokwamukela ukuqondisa komoya wakhe, sibonise ‘uthando olungenabuzenzisi,’ sikhulume iqiniso, futhi sethembele kuye ukuba asinike amandla okufeza inkonzo. Ngokuthakazelisayo, uPawulu wafakazela ukufaneleka kwakhe njengesikhonzi ‘nangezikhali zokulunga esandleni sokunene nakwesobunxele.’ Empini endulo, isandla sokunene ngokuvamile sasiphatha inkemba kuyilapho isandla sobunxele siphatha isihlangu. Lapho elwa nabafundisi bamanga empini engokomoya, uPawulu wayengasebenzisi izikhali zenyama enesono—ukuphamba, ubuqili, ukukhohlisa. (2 Korinte 6:6, 7; 11:12-14; IzAga 3:32) Wayesebenzisa ‘izikhali,’ noma izindlela, zokulunga ukuze athuthukise ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Nathi kufanele senze njalo.
18. Uma siyizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, siyoziphatha kanjani?
18 Uma siyizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, siyoziphatha njengoba kwenza uPawulu nezisebenzi ezikanye naye. Siyokwenza izinto njengamaKristu kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyahlonishwa noma siyadelelwa. Imibiko emibi ngathi ngeke isiyekise umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela, futhi ngeke sizidle uma kukhulunywa kahle ngathi. Siyokhuluma iqiniso futhi singase saziwe ngemisebenzi yokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Lapho sisengozini esongela ukuphila ngenxa yokuhlasela kwesitha, siyothembela kuJehova. Futhi siyokwamukela isiyalo ngomuzwa wokubonga.—2 Korinte 6:8, 9.
19. Kungenzeka kanjani ‘ukwenza abaningi bacebe’ ngokomoya?
19 Ephetha ingxoxo yakhe ephathelene nenkonzo yokubuyisana, uPawulu wakhuluma ngaye nabakanye naye ‘njengabadabukile kodwa abajabula njalo, njengabampofu kodwa abenza abaningi bacebe, njengabangenalutho kodwa nokho abanezinto zonke.’ (2 Korinte 6:10) Nakuba lezo zikhonzi zazinesizathu sokuba lusizi ngenxa yokuhlupheka kwazo, zazinenjabulo yangaphakathi. Zazimpofu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, kodwa ‘zenza abaningi baceba’ ngokomoya. Eqinisweni, ‘zazinezinto zonke’ ngoba ukholo lwazo lwaluzilethela ingcebo engokomoya—ngisho nethemba lokuba amadodana kaNkulunkulu asezulwini. Futhi zaziphila ukuphila okucebile nokujabulisayo njengezikhonzi ezingamaKristu. (IzEnzo 20:35) Njengazo, ‘singenza abaningi bacebe’ ngokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yokubuyisana khona manje—kulolu suku lwensindiso!
Thembela Ekusindiseni KukaJehova
20. (a) Sasiyini isifiso sikaPawulu esiqotho, futhi kungani kwakungekho sikhathi sokuchithwa? (b) Yini ephawula usuku lwensindiso esiphila kulo manje?
20 Lapho uPawulu ebhala incwadi yakhe yesibili eya kwabaseKorinte cishe ngo-55 C.E., isimiso sezinto samaJuda sasisalelwe yiminyaka engaba ngu-15 kuphela. Lo mphostoli wayefuna ngobuqotho ukuba amaJuda nabeZizwe babuyisane noNkulunkulu ngoKristu. Lolo kwakuwusuku lwensindiso, futhi sasingasekho isikhathi sokuchithwa. Nathi besilokhu sisesiphelweni esifanayo sesimiso sezinto kusukela ngo-1914. Umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso embulungeni yonke owenziwayo manje uphawula lolu suku njengolwensindiso.
21. (a) Yiliphi itekisi lonyaka eliye lakhethwa ku-1999? (b) Yini okufanele ngabe siyayenza kulolu suku lwensindiso?
21 Abantu bazo zonke izizwe kudingeka bezwe ngelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lensindiso ngoJesu Kristu. Akukho sikhathi sokulibala. UPawulu wabhala: “Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.” Lawo mazwi akweyesi-2 Korinte 6:2 azoba yitekisi lonyaka ka-1999 loFakazi BakaJehova. Yeka ukuthi afaneleka kanjani, ngoba sibhekene nokuthile okubi kakhulu kunokubhujiswa kweJerusalema nethempeli lalo! Ukuphela kwaso sonke lesi simiso sezinto, okuhilela wonke umuntu emhlabeni, sekufike qathatha. Manje—hhayi kusasa—yisikhathi sokuthatha isinyathelo. Uma sikholelwa ukuthi insindiso ingekaJehova, uma simthanda, futhi uma sikwazisa ukuphila okungunaphakade, ngeke silahlekelwe yinjongo yomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu. Sinesifiso esisuka enhliziyweni sokudumisa uJehova, siyobonisa ngamazwi nangezenzo ukuthi sisho ngobuqotho lapho sithi: “Bhekani! Manje yilo usuku lwensindiso.”
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kungani ukubuyisana noNkulunkulu kubaluleke kakhulu?
◻ Obani abangamanxusa nezithunywa abenza inkonzo yokubuyisana?
◻ Singazitusa kanjani njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu?
◻ Lisho ukuthini kuwe itekisi lonyaka lika-1999 loFakazi BakaJehova?
[Izithombe ekhasini 17]
NjengoPawulu, ingabe ushumayela ngentshiseko futhi usize abanye babuyisane noNkulunkulu?
E-United States
EFrance
ECote d’Ivoire
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Kulolu suku lwensindiso, ingabe uphakathi kwezixuku ezibuyisana noJehova uNkulunkulu?