Ungayeki Emncintiswaneni Wokuphila!
“Masiwugijimeni Ngokukhuthazela Umncintiswano Obekwe Phambi Kwethu.”—Heberu 12:1.
1, 2. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezivusa amadlingozi eziye zajabulisa izinceku zikaJehova phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina?
SIPHILA ezikhathini ezijabulisayo neziyinselele. Eminyakeni engaphezu kuka-80 edlule, ngo-1914, uJesu wabekwa esihlalweni sobukhosi njengeNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini. ‘Usuku lweNkosi’ kanye ‘nesikhathi sokugcina’ salesi simiso sezinto kwaqala. (IsAmbulo 1:10; Daniyeli 12:9) Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi umncintiswano wokuphila wamaKristu uye waphuthuma ngezinga elikhulayo. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziye zazikhandla kanzima ukuze zihambisane nenqola kaJehova yasezulwini, inhlangano yakhe yasezulwini, eqhubeka ngokungenakuvinjelwa ukuze ifeze izinjongo zikaJehova.—Hezekeli 1:4-28; 1 Korinte 9:24.
2 Ingabe abantu bakaNkulunkulu baye bayithola injabulo njengoba ‘begijima lomncintiswano’ oya ekuphileni okumi phakade? Ngokuqinisekile, baye bayithola! Baye bakujabulela kakhulu ukubona ukubuthwa kwabaseleyo babafowabo bakaJesu, futhi bayakujabulela ukubona ukuthi ukubekwa uphawu kokugcina kwabaseleyo babangu-144 000 kubheke ekuphothulweni. (IsAmbulo 7:3, 4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, bayajabula ngokuqaphela ukuthi iNkosi emisiwe kaJehova iye yafaka isikela layo ukuze ivune “isivuno somhlaba.” (IsAmbulo 14:15, 16) Yeka isivuno okuyiso! (Mathewu 9:37) Kuze kube manje, kuye kwabuthwa imiphefumulo engaphezu kwezigidi ezinhlanu—“isixuku esikhulu, okungekho muntu owakwazi ukusibala, siphuma kuzo zonke izizwe nezizwana nabantu nezilimi.” (IsAmbulo 7:9) Akekho ongase asho ukuthi leso sixuku siyogcina sisikhulu kangakanani, njengoba engekho umuntu okwazi ukusibala.
3. Kumelwe sizame ukuhlakulela umoya wenjabulo njalo phakathi kwaziphi izithiyo?
3 Yiqiniso, uSathane uyazama ukusikhuba noma ukwehlisa ijubane lethu njengoba sigijima kulomncintiswano. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Futhi bekungelula ukuqhubeka sigijima phakathi kwezimpi, indlala, izifo eziwumshayabhuqe, nazo zonke ezinye izinkinga eziwuphawu lwesikhathi sokuphela. (Mathewu 24:3-9; Luka 21:11; 2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) Noma kunjalo, izinhliziyo zethu zingqabitha ngenjabulo njengoba ukuphela komncintiswano kusondela. Sizama ukubonisa umoya uPawulu anxusa ababengamaKristu kanye naye osukwini lwakhe ukuba babe nawo: “Jabulani eNkosini ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ngizophinda futhi ngithi, Jabulani!”—Filipi 4:4.
4. Yimuphi umoya amaKristu aseFilipi awubonisa?
4 Akungabazeki ukuthi amaKristu uPawulu ayebhekise kuwo lawo mazwi ayethola injabulo enkolweni yawo, ngoba uPawulu wathi kuwo: “Qhubekani nijabula eNkosini.” (Filipi 3:1) AbaseFilipi babeyibandla eliphanayo nelinothando, elalikhonza ngentshiseko nomdlandla. (Filipi 1:3-5; 4:10, 14-20) Kodwa akuwona wonke amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ayenalowo moya. Ngokwesibonelo, amanye amaKristu angamaJuda uPawulu awabhalela incwadi yamaHeberu ayebangela ukukhathazeka.
‘Naka Ngaphezu Kokujwayelekile’
5. (a) Yimuphi umoya amaKristu angamaHeberu ayenawo lapho kwakhiwa ibandla lamaKristu lokuqala? (b) Chaza umoya wamanye amaKristu angamaHeberu ngawo-60 C.E.
5 Ibandla lokuqala lamaKristu emlandweni womhlaba lalakhiwe amaJuda emvelo namaproselithe futhi lamiswa ngo-33 C.E. eJerusalema. Lalinomoya onjani? Kudingeka nje ukuba umuntu afunde izahluko zokuqala zencwadi yezEnzo ukuze ezwe ngomdlandla nenjabulo yalo, ngisho nalapho libhekene nokushushiswa. (IzEnzo 2:44-47; 4:32-34; 5:41; 6:7) Nokho, njengoba amashumi eminyaka edlula, izinto zashintsha, futhi amaKristu amaningi angamaJuda ngokusobala anciphisa ijubane emncintiswaneni wokuphila. Enye incwadi ithi mayelana nesimo sawo njengoba sasinjalo cishe ngo-60 C.E.: “Kwakunesimo sokuvilapha nokukhathala, samathemba angafezekanga, amathemba alitshazisiwe, ukwehluleka ngamabomu nokuphelelwa ukholo ngokuphelele. AyengamaKristu kodwa engayazisi ukuyaphi inkazimulo yobizo lwawo.” AmaKristu agcotshiwe ayengafinyelela kanjani esimweni esinjalo? Ukuhlola izingxenye zencwadi kaPawulu kumaHeberu (eyabhalwa cishe ngo-61 C.E.) kusisiza ukuba siphendule lowo mbuzo. Ukuhlola okunjalo kuyosisiza sonke namuhla ukuba sigweme ukucwila esimweni esifanayo sokuba buthaka ngokomoya.
6. Yikuphi okunye ukungafani phakathi kokukhulekela ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose nokukhulekela okusekelwe ekukholelweni kuJesu Kristu?
6 AmaKristu angamaHeberu aphuma eNkolweni YobuJuda, isimiso esasithi silalela uMthetho uJehova awunikeza ngoMose. Lowo Mthetho kubonakala sengathi waqhubeka ukhanga amaKristu amaningi ayengamaJuda, mhlawumbe ngoba kwase kungamakhulu amaningi eminyaka uwukuphela kwendlela yokusondela kuJehova, futhi wawuyisimiso sokukhulekela esasihlaba umxhwele, esasinabapristi, imihlatshelo eyayenziwa njalo, nethempeli laseJerusalema elalidume umhlaba wonke. UbuKristu buhlukile. Bufuna umbono ongokomoya, onjengokaMose, ‘owagxilisa amehlo ekukhokhweni komvuzo [okwakuseza]’ futhi “waqhubeka egxilile sengathi uyambona Lowo ongabonakali.” (Heberu 11:26, 27) AmaKristu amaningi angamaJuda ngokusobala ayewuntula umbono onjalo ongokomoya. Ayeqhugela esikhundleni sokuba agijime ngokunenjongo.
7. Isimiso esiye saphuma kuso singase siyithonye kanjani indlela esigijima ngayo emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
7 Ingabe sikhona isimo esifanayo namuhla? Nokho, izinto azifani ncamashí. Noma kunjalo, amaKristu aphuma esimisweni sezinto esiziqhayisa kakhulu. Izwe linikeza amathuba ajabulisayo, kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo, lifuna okwengeziwe kubantu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abaningi bethu bahlala emazweni lapho kuvamé isimo sengqondo sokungabaza, nalapho abantu benombono wobugovu nokuzibeka phambili ezintweni. Uma sizivumela ukuba sithonywe isimiso esinjalo, “amehlo enhliziyo” yethu angafiphazeka kalula. (Efesu 1:18) Siyogijima kanjani kahle emncintiswaneni wokuphila uma singasakwazi ukubona kahle lapho siya khona?
8. Yiziphi ezinye zezindlela ubuKristu obuphakeme ngazo kunokukhulekela ngaphansi koMthetho?
8 Ukuze ashukumise amaKristu angamaJuda, uPawulu wawakhumbuza ngokuphakama kwesimiso sobuKristu kunoMthetho kaMose. Yiqiniso, lapho isizwe sika-Israyeli wenyama sisengabantu bakaJehova abangaphansi koMthetho, uJehova wayekhuluma naso ngabaprofethi abaphefumulelwe. Kodwa namuhla, kusho uPawulu, ukhuluma “esebenzisa iNdodana, ayimisé ukuba ibe indlalifa yezinto zonke, naleyo enza ngayo izimiso zezinto.” (Heberu 1:2) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu mkhulu kunawo wonke amakhosi ohlu lukaDavide, “abangane” bakhe. Uphakeme nangaphezu kwezingelosi.—Heberu 1:5, 6, 9.
9. Kungani nathi, njengamaKristu angamaJuda osuku lukaPawulu, kudingeka ‘sikunake ngaphezu kokuvamile’ lokho uJehova akushoyo?
9 Ngakho-ke, uPawulu weluleka amaKristu angamaJuda: “Kudingekile ngathi ukuba sizinake ngaphezu kokujwayelekile izinto esazizwa, ukuze singalokothi sikhukhuleke.” (Heberu 2:1) Nakuba ukufunda ngoKristu kwakuyisibusiso esimangalisayo, kwakudingeka okwengeziwe. Kwakudingeka banakisise iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze balwe nethonya lezwe lamaJuda elalibazungezile. Nathi kudingeka ‘sikunake ngaphezu kokujwayelekile’ lokho uJehova akushoyo uma kucatshangelwa inkulumo-ze eqhubekayo esichayeke kuyo kulelizwe. Lokhu kusho ukuba nemikhuba emihle yokutadisha nokunamathela esimisweni esihle sokufunda iBhayibheli. Njengoba uPawulu esho kamuva encwadini yakhe kumaHeberu, kusho futhi ukuba khona njalo emihlanganweni nokumemezela njalo ukholo lwethu kwabanye. (Heberu 10:23-25) Umsebenzi onjalo uyosisiza sihlale siphapheme ngokomoya ukuze singalahlekelwa umbono wethemba lethu elikhazimulayo. Uma sigcwalisa izingqondo zethu ngemicabango kaJehova, ngeke sikhungathekiswe noma sikhutshwe yinoma yini leli lizwe elingasenza yona.—IHubo 1:1-3; IzAga 3:1-6.
“Qhubekani Nikhuthazana”
10. (a) Kungenzekani kumuntu ongalinaki ngaphezu kokujwayelekile iZwi likaJehova? (b) ‘Singaqhubeka’ kanjani ‘sikhuthazana’?
10 Uma singazinakisisi izinto ezingokomoya, izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu zingase zibonakale zingezona ezingokoqobo. Lokhu kwenzeka ngisho nangekhulu lokuqala lapho amabandla ayakhiwe amaKristu agcotshiwe wodwa futhi nabanye abaphostoli besaphila. UPawulu waxwayisa amaHeberu: “Qaphelani, bafowethu, funa kukhule kunoma ubani kini inhliziyo embi entula ukholo ngokuhlehla kuNkulunkulu ophilayo; kodwa qhubekani nikhuthazana usuku ngalunye, uma nje kusengathiwa ‘Namuhla,’ funa noma ubani kini enziwe lukhuni amandla okukhohlisa esono.” (Heberu 3:12, 13) Inkulumo kaPawulu ethi “qaphelani” igcizelela isidingo sokuqapha. Kunengozi esongelayo! Ukuntula ukholo—“isono”—kungase kwakheke ezinhliziyweni zethu, futhi singaqhela kuNkulunkulu esikhundleni sokuba sisondele kuye. (Jakobe 4:8) UPawulu usikhumbuza ukuba ‘siqhubeke sikhuthazana.’ Siyayidinga imfudumalo yobudlelwane nabafowethu. “Ozahlukanisayo ufuna esakhe isifiso, uphika konke ukuhlakanipha.” (IzAga 18:1) Isidingo sobudlelwane obunjalo sishukumisa amaKristu namuhla ukuba abe khona njalo emihlanganweni yebandla, eyesifunda neyesigodi.
11, 12. Kungani kungafanele saneliswe ukwazi nje izimfundiso eziyisisekelo zobuKristu?
11 Kamuva encwadini yakhe, uPawulu unikeza lesi seluleko esiqhubekayo esibalulekile: “Nakuba bekufanele ngabe ningabafundisi ngenxa yesikhathi, nisadinga futhi othile ukuba anifundise kusukela ekuqaleni izinto zokucathula zamazwi angcwele kaNkulunkulu; futhi senibe njengabadinga ubisi, hhayi ukudla okuqinile. . . . Ukudla okuqinile kungokwabantu abavuthiwe, labo okuthe ngokusebenzisa amandla abo okuqonda bawenza aqeqeshelwa ukuhlukanisa kokubili okulungile nokungalungile.” (Heberu 5:12-14) Ngokusobala, amanye amaKristu angamaJuda ayehlulekile ukuthuthuka ekuqondeni. Ayethathe kade ukwamukela ukukhanya okwandisiwe ngokuqondene noMthetho nokusoka. (IzEnzo 15:27-29; Galathiya 2:11-14; 6:12, 13) Kungenzeka amanye ayesayazisa imikhuba engokwesiko enjengeSabatha lamasonto onke noSuku Lokubuyisana lwaminyaka yonke.—Kolose 2:16, 17; Heberu 9:1-14.
12 Ngakho, uPawulu uthi: “Njengoba sesiyishiyile imfundiso yokuqala ephathelene noKristu, masiphokopheleleni ekuvuthweni.” (Heberu 6:1) Umgijimi webanga elide oyinakisisayo imikhuba yakhe yokudla ukwazi kangcono ukubekezelela umncintiswano omude okhandlayo. Ngokufanayo, umKristu okunakisisayo ukondleka okungokomoya—ongagcini ‘ezimfundisweni zokuqala’ eziyisisekelo—uyokwazi kangcono ukuqhubeka esemncintiswaneni futhi awuqede. (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Thimothewu 4:7.) Lokhu kusho ukuba nesithakazelo ‘ebubanzini nasebudeni nasekuphakameni nasekujuleni’ kweqiniso, kanjalo sithuthukele ekuvuthweni.—Efesu 3:18.
“Ninesidingo Sokukhuthazela”
13. AmaKristu angamaHeberu ayelubonise kanjani ukholo lwawo ezikhathini zangaphambili?
13 Phakathi nesikhathi esingemva nje kwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., amaKristu angamaJuda ama eqinile naphezu kokushushiswa okunobudlova. (IzEnzo 8:1) Mhlawumbe uPawulu wayecabanga ngalokhu lapho ebhala: “Qhubekani nikhumbula izinsuku zangaphambili okwathi ngazo, ngemva kokuba senikhanyiselwe, nakhuthazelela umncintiswano omkhulu ngaphansi kwezinhlupheko.” (Heberu 10:32) Ukukhuthazela okunjalo kokukholeka kwabonisa uthando lwawo ngoNkulunkulu futhi kwawanika inkululeko yokukhuluma phambi kwakhe. (1 Johane 4:17) UPawulu uwakhuthaza ukuba angayilahli ngenxa yokuntula ukholo. Uyawanxusa: “Ninesidingo sokukhuthazela, ukuze kuthi, ngemva kokuba seniyenzile intando kaNkulunkulu, namukele ukugcwaliswa kwesithembiso. Ngoba kusele ‘isikhathi esincane kakhulu,’ futhi ‘lowo ozayo uzofika futhi ngeke alibale.’”—Heberu 10:35-37.
14. Yimaphi amaqiniso okufanele asisize sikhuthazele ngisho nangemva kweminyaka eminingi sikhonza uJehova?
14 Kuthiwani ngathi namuhla? Iningi lethu lalishiseka lapho liqala ukufunda iqiniso lobuKristu. Ingabe sisenayo leyo ntshiseko? Noma ingabe ‘silushiyile uthando esasinalo ekuqaleni’? (IsAmbulo 2:4) Ingabe siye saphola, mhlawumbe sathi ukudumala noma ukukhathala ukulinda i-Armagedoni? Nokho, yima ucabange. Iqiniso liseyisimangaliso njengoba lalinjalo ngaphambili. UJesu usalokhu eyiNkosi yethu yasezulwini. Sisenethemba lokuphila okumi phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi, futhi sisenabo ubuhlobo noJehova. Futhi ungalokothi ukhohlwe: “Lowo ozayo uzofika futhi ngeke alibale.”
15. NjengoJesu, amanye amaKristu aye akukhuthazelela kanjani ukushushiswa kanzima?
15 Ngakho, amazwi kaPawulu akumaHeberu 12:1, 2 afaneleka kakhulu: “Masilahleni konke okusindayo nesono esisithandela kalula [ukuntula ukholo], futhi masiwugijimeni ngokukhuthazela umncintiswano obekwe phambi kwethu, njengoba sigxilise amehlo ethu kuMmeli Oyinhloko noMphelelisi wokholo lwethu, uJesu. Ngenxa yenjabulo eyayibekwe phambi kwakhe wakhuthazelela isigxobo sokuhlushwa, edelela ihlazo, futhi useye wahlala phansi ngakwesokunene sesihlalo sobukhosi sikaNkulunkulu.” Ziningi izinto izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziye zazikhuthazelela kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. NjengoJesu, owakholeka kwaze kwaba seqophelweni lokufa okubuhlungu, abanye babafowethu nodadewethu baye bakhuthazelela ukushushiswa okunonya kakhulu ngokukholeka—amakamu asemajele, ukuhlukunyezwa, ukudlwengulwa, ngisho nokufa. (1 Petru 2:21) Ingabe inhliziyo yethu ayichichimi uthando ngabo lapho sicabanga ngobuqotho babo?
16, 17. (a) Yiziphi izinselele zokholo lwawo iningi lamaKristu elibhekana nazo? (b) Ukukhumbulani okuyosisiza ukuba siqhubeke sigijima emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
16 Nokho, kwabaningi kusebenza amazwi kaPawulu aqhubekayo: “Ekulwisaneni kwenu nalesosono anikaze nizabalaze kuze kube seqophelweni legazi.” (Heberu 12:4) Noma kunjalo, kulesi simiso indlela yeqiniso ayilula kunoma ubani kithi. Abanye badangaliswa ‘inkulumo yezoni ephikisayo’ emsebenzini wokuziphilisa noma esikoleni, ukukhuthazelela ukuhlekwa usulu, noma ukumelana nokucindezelwa kokuba bone. (Heberu 12:3) Ukulingwa okunamandla kuye kwalimaza ukuzimisela kwabanye kokulondoloza izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu eziphakeme. (Heberu 13:4, 5) Izihlubuki ziye zaphazamisa ukuqina okungokomoya kwabambalwa abalalela inkulumo-ze yazo enobuthi. (Heberu 13:9) Ukungezwani ngenxa yokungafani kobuntu kuye kwaphuca abanye injabulo. Ukugcizelela ngokweqile ukuzijabulisa nemisebenzi yokuzilibazisa kuye kwenza amanye amaKristu aba buthaka. Futhi amaningi azizwa ecindezelwe izinkinga zokuphila kulesi simiso sezinto.
17 Yiqiniso, asikho kulezi zimo esibangela ‘ukuzabalaza kuze kube seqophelweni legazi.’ Futhi ezinye kungase kutholakale ukuthi zibangelwa izinqumo eziyiphutha ezenziwa yithi uqobo. Kodwa zonke zibekela ukholo lwethu inselele. Yingakho kufanele sigcine iso lethu lisesibonelweni sikaJesu esihle kakhulu sokukhuthazela. Kwangathi singelokothe sikhohlwe indlela ithemba lethu elimangalisa ngayo. Kwangathi singelokothe siyeke ukuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova “uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.” (Heberu 11:6) Khona-ke, siyoba namandla angokomoya okuqhubeka sigijima emncintiswaneni wokuphila.
Singakwazi Ukukhuthazela
18, 19. Yiziphi izenzakalo ezingokomlando ezisikisela ukuthi amaKristu angamaHeberu eJerusalema asilalela iseluleko sikaPawulu esiphefumulelwe?
18 AmaKristu angamaJuda asabela kanjani encwadini kaPawulu? Eminyakeni engaba yisithupha ngemva kokubhalwa kwencwadi eya kumaHeberu, iJudiya lalilwa. Ngo-66 C.E., ibutho lamaRoma lavimbezela iJerusalema, kwagcwaliseka amazwi kaJesu: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke yazini ukuthi ukuchithwa kwalo sekusondele.” (Luka 21:20) Nokho, ukuze kuzuze amaKristu ayeyobe eseJerusalema ngaleso sikhathi, uJesu wathi: “Khona-ke labo abaseJudiya mabaqale ukubalekela ezintabeni, futhi labo abaphakathi kwalo mabasuke, futhi labo abasemaphandleni mabangangeni kulo.” (Luka 21:21) Ngakho, ukulwa neRoma kwaletha uvivinyo: Ingabe lawo maKristu angamaJuda ayeyolishiya iJerusalema, isikhungo sokukhulekela kwamaJuda nendawo yethempeli elikhazimulayo?
19 Kungazelelwe, futhi ngaphandle kwesizathu esaziwayo, amaRoma ahoxa. Kungenzeka amaJuda akholwayo abheka lokhu njengobufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu wayewuvikela umuzi wawo ongcwele. Kuthiwani ngamaKristu? Umlando usitshela ukuthi abaleka. Khona-ke, ngo-70 C.E., amaRoma abuya futhi alibhubhisa ngokuphelele iJerusalema kwafa abaningi ngokushaqisayo. ‘Usuku lukaJehova’ olwalubikezelwe nguJoweli lwase lufikile eJerusalema. Kodwa amaKristu akholekile ayengasekho. ‘Akhululwa.’—Joweli 2:30-32; IzEnzo 2:16-21.
20. Ukwazi ukuthi ‘usuku lukaJehova’ olukhulu luseduze kufanele kusishukumise ngaziphi izindlela?
20 Namuhla, siyazi ukuthi ngokushesha olunye ‘usuku lukaJehova’ olukhulu luzogadla kuso sonke lesi simiso sezinto. (Joweli 3:12-14) Asazi ukuthi lolo suku luyofika nini. Kodwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyasiqinisekisa ukuthi luyofika nakanjani! UJehova uthi ngeke lwephuze. (Habakuki 2:3; 2 Petru 3:9, 10) Ngakho, ‘masizinake ngaphezu kokujwayelekile izinto ezizwiweyo.’ Gwema ukuntula ukholo, ‘isono esisithandela kalula.’ Zimisele ukukhuthazela kuze kube sekugcineni. Khumbula, inhlangano kaJehova enkulu yasezulwini enjengenqola iyaqhubeka. Izoyifeza injongo yayo. Ngakho kwangathi sonke singaqhubeka sigijima futhi singayeki emncintiswaneni wokuphila!
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Ukulalela siphi isikhuthazo sikaPawulu kwabaseFilipi okuyosisiza sikhuthazele emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
◻ Yini eyosisiza silwisane nomkhuba walelizwe wokusiphambukisa?
◻ Singasizana kanjani ukuba sikhuthazele emncintiswaneni?
◻ Yiziphi ezinye zezinto ezingase zinciphise ijubane lomKristu?
◻ Isibonelo sikaJesu singasisiza kanjani ukuba sikhuthazele?
[Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]
Njengabagijimi, amaKristu akumelwe avumele lutho luwaphazamise
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Akukho lutho olungavimbela inqola kaJehova enkulu yasezulwini ekufezeni injongo kaNkulunkulu