Vumela “Izwi” LikaJehova Likulonde
NGO-490 B.C.E., empini yaseMarathon eyaqopha umlando kwakubambene i-Athene enamasosha asukela ezinkulungwaneni eziyishumi kuya kwezingu-20 nePheresiya enamasosha amaningi kakhulu. Into eyenza amaGreki aphumelela kuleyo mpi, yindlela ayihlela ngayo. Amasosha ayehamba elinganisene eduze, izihlangu zawo zincikene ngendlela eyakha udonga olungabhodlozeki, imikhonto eyibambele phezulu. Le ndlela yokuhlasela yokuhlanganisa izihlangu yenza abase-Athene bakwazi ukunqoba amabutho amaningi asePheresiya.
AmaKristu eqiniso asempini engokomoya. Alwa nezitha ezinamandla—ababusi abangabonakali balesi simiso sezinto esibi iBhayibheli elibachaza ngokuthi ‘ababusi bezwe balobu bumnyama, ibandla lomoya ababi ezindaweni zasezulwini.’ (Efesu 6:12; 1 Johane 5:19) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayaqhubeka benqoba—kodwa abanqobi ngamandla abo. Basizwa uJehova, obalondayo futhi abayale, njengoba kusho iHubo 18:30: “Izwi likaJehova licwengekile. Uyisihlangu sabo bonke abaphephela kuye.”
Yebo, ‘ngezwi’ lakhe elicwengekile elisemiBhalweni Engcwele, uJehova uvikela izinceku zakhe eziqotho ukuba zingalimali ngokomoya. (IHubo 19:7-11; 119:93) Ngokuqondene nokuhlakanipha okuseZwini likaNkulunkulu, uSolomoni wabhala: “Ungakushiyi, kuyokugcina. Kuthande, kuyokulonda.” (IzAga 4:6; UmShumayeli 7:12) Ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kusilonda kanjani ezingozini? Ake ucabange ngesibonelo sika-Israyeli wasendulo.
Abantu Abavikelwa Ukuhlakanipha KukaNkulunkulu
UMthetho kaJehova wavikela futhi waqondisa ama-Israyeli kuzo zonke izici zokuphila. Ngokwesibonelo, imithetho ephathelene nokudla, inhlanzeko, nokuhlaliswa komuntu yedwa lapho enesifo esithathelwanayo yawavikela ezifweni eziningi ezazihlupha ezinye izizwe. Isayensi ithole la maqiniso aseMthethweni kaNkulunkulu ngemva kokutholakala kwegciwane ngekhulu le-19. Imithetho ephathelene nobunikazi bendawo, ukuhlenga [ukuthenga kabusha], ukukhulula esikweletini nokubiza inzalo yawuzuzisa umphakathi wakwa-Israyeli yawenza wazinza wajabulela nesimo esihle sezomnotho. (Duteronomi 7:12, 15; 15:4, 5) UMthetho kaJehova wasiza nasekugcineni umhlabathi wakwa-Israyeli uthela! (Eksodusi 23:10, 11) Imiyalo enqabela ukukhulekela kwamanga yalonda abantu ngokomoya, yabavikela ekucindezelweni amademoni, ekunikeleni ngabantwana babo, nobunye ububi obuningi, ngaphandle komkhuba ohlazisayo wokukhulekela izithombe ezingaphili.—Eksodusi 20:3-5; IHubo 115:4-8.
Kusobala ukuthi “izwi” likaJehova alizange libe “izwi elingasizi ngalutho” kuma-Israyeli; kunalokho, lalibanika ukuphila libandisele nezinsuku bonke abalilalelayo. (Duteronomi 32:47) Kwenzeka okufanayo nanamuhla kulabo abalalela amazwi kaJehova ahlakaniphile, ngisho nakuba amaKristu engasekho ngaphansi kwesivumelwano soMthetho. (Galathiya 3:24, 25; Hebheru 8:8) Empeleni, esikhundleni sokuba nohlu lwemithetho, amaKristu anezimiso zeBhayibheli ezihlukahlukene eziwaqondisayo futhi ziwalonde.
Abantu Abavikelwe Izimiso
Imithetho ingasebenza, kodwa hhayi kuzo zonke izimo futhi ngezinye izikhathi ibe eyesikhashana. Kodwa njengoba izimiso zeBhayibheli zingamaqiniso ayisisekelo, ngokuvamile zisebenziseka kuzo zonke izici zokuphila futhi aziphelelwa isikhathi. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngesimiso esikuJakobe 3:17, esithi ngokwengxenye: “Ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu okokuqala kumsulwa, kunokuthula.” Lelo qiniso eliyisisekelo lingabavikela kanjani abantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla?
Ukuba msulwa kusho ukuhlanzeka ngokokuziphatha. Ngakho, labo ababazisayo ubumsulwa abalweli nje ukugwema ukuziphatha okubi ngokobulili, kodwa balwela nokugwema izinto ezingaholela kukho, ezihlanganisa ukucabanga ngakho kanye nezithombe ezingcolile zobulili. (Mathewu 5:28) Ngokufanayo, izithandani ezilalela isimiso esikuJakobe 3:17 zigwema izindlela zokubonisana uthando ezingase ziziholele ekulahlekelweni ukuzibamba. Ngenxa yokuthi ziyazithanda izimiso, azilutheki zize zilahlekelwe ubumsulwa bazo, mhlawumbe zizikhohlise ngokuthi uma nje zingakawuphuli umthetho, uJehova usakwamukela ukuziphatha kwazo. Ziyazi ukuthi uJehova “ubona lokho inhliziyo eyikho” futhi enze ngokuvumelana nakho. (1 Samuweli 16:7; 2 IziKronike 16:9) Abahlakaniphe kanjena balonda imizimba yabo bangatholi izifo eziningi ezithathelwana ngobulili ezithé chithi saka namuhla futhi bavikeleke ngokwengqondo nangokomzwelo.
UJakobe 3:17 ubuye athi ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu “kunokuthula.” Siyazi ukuthi uSathane uzama ukusiqhelisa kuJehova ngokutshala umoya wobudlova ezinhliziyweni zethu. Enye indlela akwenza ngayo lokhu izincwadi, amabhayisikobho, umculo nemidlalo ye-computer engabazisayo. Eminye yale midlalo ye-computer yenza abayidlalayo balingise unya nokubulala okunyantisayo! (IHubo 11:5) Ukwanda kobugebengu obunobudlova kubonisa ukuthi uSathane uyaphumelela. Likhuluma ngalobu bugebengu, eminyakeni eminingi edlule, iphephandaba lase-Australia i-Sydney Morning Herald lake lacaphuna uRobert Ressler, umuntu owasungula igama elithi “serial killer [umuntu obulala ephindelela].” URessler wathi ababulali axoxa nabo ngawo-1970 babeyimilutha yezithombe ezingcolile zobulili “ezingelutho uma ziqhathaniswa nezanamuhla.” Ngakho, uRessler wathi ubona “ikusasa limnyama—iminyaka ezoba nenqwaba yababulali ababulala bephindelela.”
Nangempela, kuthe kusadlule izinyanga ezimbalwa nje kuphume leyo ndaba ephephandabeni, umuntu ophethe isibhamu wabulala izinsana ezingu-16 nothisha wazo enkulisa eDunblane, eScotland, ngemva kwalokho naye wazibulala. Ngenyanga eyalandela, umdubuli owayethukuthele wadubula wabulala abantu abangu-32 edolobheni elithulile iTasmania esePort Arthur, e-Australia. Eminyakeni yamuva, i-United States iye yahlushwa ukubulawa kwezingane nothisha esikoleni, kwenza abantu baseMelika bazibuza ukuthi kazi kukhale nyonini. Ngo-June 2001, kwenzeka into eyathusa umhlaba wonke eJapan ngesikhathi indoda esangene ingena esikoleni futhi igwaza ibulala izingane ezisonyakeni wokuqala nowesibili esikoleni futhi idebeza ngommese abantu abangu-15. Yiqiniso, zihlukahlukene izinto ezibangela lobu bubi, kodwa ubudlova obusemithonjeni yezindaba buwumthelela omkhulu. Umlobi wengosi yephephandaba wase-Australia, uPhillip Adams wabhala: “Uma isikhangiso somzuzu owodwa senza abantu bayithenge ubuthaphuthaphu leyo nto ekhangiswayo, ungangitsheli ukuthi ibhayisikobho edlala amahora amabili nedle izigidi zamarandi ngesikhathi iqoshwa ayinakuyithonya imicabango yabantu.” Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi ekhaya lalo mlisa owadubula abantu ePort Arthur, amaphoyisa ashaqa amakhasethi e-video obudlova nawezithombe ezingcolile angu-2 000.
Labo abanamathela ezimisweni zeBhayibheli bavikela izingqondo nezinhliziyo zabo kuzo zonke izinhlobo zokuzijabulisa ezenza abantu babe nequngo lobudlova. Ngakho abawuvumeli “umoya wezwe” ukuba uthonye izingqondo nezifiso zabo. Kunalokho, ‘bafundiswa umoya kaNkulunkulu,’ futhi balwela ukuhlakulela ukuthanda izithelo zawo ezihlanganisa ukuthula. (1 Korinte 2:12, 13; Galathiya 5:22, 23) Lokhu bakwenza ngokulitadisha njalo iBhayibheli, ngokuthandaza nangokuzindla ngendlela eyakhayo. Bayakugwema nokuzihlanganisa nabantu abathambekele ebudloveni, kunalokho bakhetha ukuzihlanganisa nabantu abafana nabo abalangazelela izwe likaJehova elisha elinokuthula. (IHubo 1:1-3; IzAga 16:29) Yebo, yeka indlela okuvikela ngayo ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu!
Vumela “Izwi” LikaJehova Lilonde Inhliziyo Yakho
Ngesikhathi uJesu elingwa uSathane ehlane, uJesu wamelana naye ngokulicaphuna ngokunembile iZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Luka 4:1-13) Kodwa akazange aqophisane noDeveli ukuze kubonakale ukuthi ubani ohlakaniphe kakhulu. Ethembele esivikelweni semiBhalo, uJesu wakhuluma ngokusuka enhliziyweni, yingakho iqhinga elasebenzela uDeveli e-Edene lingasebenzanga kuJesu. Amaqhinga kaSathane ngeke asebenze nakithi uma sifaka amazwi kaJehova ezinhliziyweni zethu. Kubaluleke kakhulu ukukwenza lokhu ngoba “imithombo yokuphila ivela [enhliziyweni].”—IzAga 4:23.
Ngaphezu kwalokho, kumelwe siqhubeke siqapha izinhliziyo zethu, singalokothi sidebesele. USathane akazange adele ukulinga uJesu ngisho nangemva kokuba ezamile wahluleka ehlane. (Luka 4:13) Uzophikelela ezama ukusilinga nathi, azame amaqhinga ahlukahlukene ukuze aphule ubuqotho bethu. (IsAmbulo 12:17) Ngakho, masilingise uJesu ngokuhlakulela uthando olujulile ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu, ngesikhathi esifanayo sithandaze singaphezi sicele umoya ongcwele nokuhlakanipha. (1 Thesalonika 5:17; Hebheru 5:7) Uma senza kanjalo, uJehova uthembisa bonke abaphephela kuye ukuthi bayovikeleka ezingozini ezingokomoya.—IHubo 91:1-10; IzAga 1:33.
Izwi LikaNkulunkulu Lilonda Ibandla
USathane ngeke asivimbele “isixuku esikhulu” esibikezelwe ukuba sisinde osizini olukhulu. (IsAmbulo 7:9, 14) Noma kunjalo, usalokhu ezama ngawo wonke amandla ukonakalisa amaKristu ukuze okungenani abathile balahlekelwe umusa kaJehova. Lelo qhinga lasebenza kuma-Israyeli asendulo futhi kwafa angu-24 000 esezongena eZweni Lesithembiso. (Numeri 25:1-9) Yiqiniso, amaKristu onayo abese ebonisa ukuphenduka kweqiniso athola usizo lothando ukuze avuseleleke ngokomoya. Kodwa izoni ezingaphenduki, njengoZimri wangezikhathi zeBhayibheli, zifaka ukuziphatha nengokomoya labanye abantu engozini. (Numeri 25:14) Njengamasosha aziphonse kude izihlangu zawo, abanjalo abazichayi bona engozini kuphela, kodwa bachaya nabakanye nabo.
Ngakho iBhayibheli liyayala: “Niyeke ukuzihlanganisa nanoma ubani obizwa ngokuthi umzalwane abe eyisifebe noma engumuntu ohahayo noma okhonza izithombe noma isithuki noma isidakwa noma umphangi, ningadli ngisho nokudla nomuntu onjalo. . . . Susani umuntu omubi phakathi kwenu.” (1 Korinte 5:11, 13) Awuvumi yini ukuthi la ‘mazwi’ ahlakaniphile asiza ekugcineni ibandla lobuKristu lihlanzekile ngokuziphatha nangokomoya?
Amasonto amaningi eLobukholwa nezihlubuki benza okuhluke ngokuphelele; bawabheka njengawayisidala amavesi eBhayibheli angavumelani nemibono yokuziphatha yanamuhla engenamingcele. Ngakho, bathethelela zonke izinhlobo zesono ezenyanyekayo, ngisho nezenziwa abefundisi. (2 Thimothewu 4:3, 4) Nokho, phawula ukuthi izAga 30:5, ezikhuluma ‘nangamazwi’ kaJehova afana nesihlangu, zinomyalo evesini 6: “Unganezeli lutho emazwini [kaNkulunkulu], ukuze angakusoli, futhi ungatholakali ungumqambimanga.” Yebo, labo abanezela emazwini aseBhayibhelini bangabaqambimanga ngempela—abaqambimanga bokuqala nabokugcina! (Mathewu 15:6-9) Ngakho masibonge ngempela ngokuthi sisenhlanganweni elihlonipha ngokujulile iZwi likaNkulunkulu.
Sivikelwe ‘Yiphunga Elimnandi’
Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu banamathela eBhayibhelini futhi batshela abanye abantu isigijimi salo esiduduzayo, bakhipha ‘iphunga elimnandi’ lokuphila elinjengempepho elijabulisa uJehova. Kodwa kubantu ababi, laba baphathi besigijimi bakhipha, ngokweBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile, “iphunga lokufa.” Yebo, izinzwa zokuhogela ezingokomfanekiso zabantu ababi ziye zonakaliswa isimiso sikaSathane sezinto kangangokuthi abajabuli mhlawumbe baze babe nobudlova lapho bephakathi kwalabo abakhipha “iphunga likaKristu elimnandi.” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, labo abazisakaza ngenkuthalo izindaba ezinhle baba “yiphunga likaKristu elimnandi phakathi kwalabo abasindiswayo.” (2 Korinte 2:14-16) Laba bantu abanhliziyo-ziqotho bayabenyanya ubuzenzisi namanga agcwele enkolweni yamanga. Ngakho, lapho sivula iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi sibaxoxela ngesigijimi soMbuso, bazizwa bedonseleka kuKristu bafune ukwazi okwengeziwe.—Johane 6:44.
Ngakho ungadumali lapho abanye bengasabeli kahle esigijimini soMbuso. Kunalokho, bheka “iphunga likaKristu elimnandi” njengohlobo lwesivikelo esingokomoya esibadedisela kude labo abangase babe ingozi endaweni engokomoya ehlala abantu bakaNkulunkulu, ngesikhathi esifanayo sibasondeze eduze labo abanenhliziyo enhle.—Isaya 35:8, 9.
Ngenxa yokuthi amasosha amaGreki empini yaseMarathon ahamba elinganisene futhi azibamba angazidedela izihlangu zawo, akwazi ukunqoba naphezu kobukhulu bebutho ayebhekene nalo. Ngokufanayo, oFakazi BakaJehova abaqotho baqinisekiswa ukuthi bayonqoba ngokuphelele empini yabo engokomoya ngoba ukunqoba ‘kuyifa’ labo. (Isaya 54:17) Ngakho-ke, ngamunye wethu makaqhubeke ephephele kuJehova ngokuhlala ‘elibambe ngokuqinile izwi lokuphila.’—Filipi 2:16.
[Izithombe ekhasini 31]
“Ukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu okokuqala kumsulwa, kunokuthula”