Linanzelele Ukuthi Lingabantu Abanjani

1, 2. ‘Kumele sibe ngabantu abanjani’ nxa sifuna ukwamukelwa nguNkulunkulu?

IZIKHATHI ezinengi siba lendaba lokuthi abanye bacabangani ngathi. Kodwa thina njengamaKhristu, akungcono yini ukuthi sizikhathaze kakhulu ngokuthi uJehova usibona njani? Phela yena mkhulu ukwedlula loba ngubani emhlabeni njalo kuye ‘kulomthombo wokuphila.’​—Hubo. 36:9.

² Egcizelela ukuthi kumele sibe ‘ngabantu abanjani’ ngokubona kukaJehova, umphostoli uPhetro usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sibe ngcwele ekuhambeni kwethu njalo sikhonze uNkulunkulu.’ (2 Pet 3:11, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Nxa sifuna ukwamukelwa nguNkulunkulu, ‘ukuhamba kwethu’ kumele kube ngcwele, okutsho ukuthi kumele sihlanzeke ekuziphatheni, engqondweni lasekukhonzeni kwethu. Kanti njalo kumele senze izenzo ‘zokukhonza uNkulunkulu,’ simhlonipha njalo sibambelela kuye ngokuthembeka. Yikho-ke, ukuphila ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu asamukele akugoqeli ukuziphatha kwethu kuphela kodwa lokuthi sinjani ngaphakathi. UJehova “uhlola inhliziyo,” ngakho uyakwazi ukuthi singcwele yini ekuhambeni kwethu kanye lokuthi sizinikele kuye kuphela yini loba hatshi.​—1 ImiLan. 29:17.

3. Yiphi imibuzo okumele siyihlole mayelana lobuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu?

³ USathane uDeveli kafuni ukuthi siphile ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu asamukele. Kanti njalo wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze enze ukuthi singabi lobuhlobo loJehova. USathane kathikazi ukusebenzisa amanga lokukhohlisa ukuze asihuge njalo asidonsele khatshana loNkulunkulu esimkhonzayo. (Joha. 8:44; 2 Kor. 11:13, 15) Ngakho-ke kuyikuhlakanipha ukuthi sizibuze ukuthi: ‘USathane ubakhohlisa njani abantu? Ngingenzani ukuze ngilondoloze ubuhlobo bami loJehova?’

USATHANE UBAKHOHLISA NJANI ABANTU?

4. Emizamweni yakhe yokusehlukanisa loNkulunkulu, uSathane unxwaneleni njalo ngani?

⁴ Umfundi uJakhobe wabhala wathi: ‘Lowo lalowo ulingwa yinkanuko yakhe embi. Ngakho nxa inkanuko isiyemule izala isono; njalo isono lapho sesikhulile okugcweleyo, sizala ukufa.’ (Jak. 1:14, 15) Emizamweni yakhe yokusehlukanisa loNkulunkulu, uSathane unxwanele kakhulu lapho okuvela khona izifiso zethu, okutsho izinhliziyo zethu.

5, 6. (a) USathane usebenzisani ukuze asihuge? (b) USathane usebenzisa yiphi imijibila ukuze azame ukonakalisa izifiso zezinhliziyo zethu, njalo selesikhathi esinganani eyisebenzisa?

⁵ USathane usebenzisani ukuze ahuge izinhliziyo zethu? IBhayibhili lithi: “Umhlaba wonke ungaphansi kwamandla omubi.” (1 Joha. 5:19) Izikhali zikaSathane zigoqela ‘ulutho olusemhlabeni kumbe izinto ezisemhlabeni.’ (Bala u-1 Johane 2:15, 16.) UDeveli ubelolonga indawo esiphila kuyo ngonanzelelo okwezinkulungwane zeminyaka. Njengoba siphila emhlabeni lo, kumele siqaphele amacebo akhe acatshileyo.​—Joha. 17:15.

⁶ USathane usebenzisa izindlela ezihloselwe ukonakalisa izifiso zenhliziyo. Umphostoli uJohane uqamba imijibila emithathu esetshenziswa nguSathane: (1) “izinkanuko zabantu,” (2) ”ukulangazela kwamehlo,” (3) “lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla.” USathane wayisebenzisa imijibila le lapho elinga uJesu enkangala. Useleminyaka eminengi eyisebenzisa, ngakho lamuhla uyisebenzisa ngokuphumelelayo, eyintshintshantshintsha kusiya ngokuthi umuntu uthandani. Singakakhangeli esingakwenza ukuze sizivikele emijibileni le, ake sibone ukuthi uDeveli waphumelela njani ukusebenzisa eminye yakhona ku-Eva lokuthi wehluleka njani lapho eseyisebenzisa eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu.

“IZINKANUKO ZABANTU”

7. USathane wasebenzisa njani “izinkanuko zabantu” ukuze alinge u-Eva?

⁷ Ukudla kuqakatheke kakhulu ebantwini ukuze bahlale belempilakahle. UMdali walungisa umhlaba ukuthi uthele inala yokudla. USathane angazama ukusebenzisa isifiso sethu semvelo sokudla ukuze azame ukusiphambukisa ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. Khangela ukuthi wakwenza njani lokhu ku-Eva. (Bala uGenesisi 3:1-6.) USathane watshela u-Eva ukuthi angadla isithelo ‘sesihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi’ ngeke afe, esithi mhla esidla uzafanana loNkulunkulu. (Gen. 2:9) Yikho-ke kufanana lokuthi uDeveli wayesithi u-Eva kakudingeki ukuthi alalele uNkulunkulu ukuze aphile. Lokhu kwakungamanga aluhlaza tshoko! Umcabango lo usuhlanyelwe engqondweni ka-Eva kwasekukuye ukuthi akhethe: Ukulahla umcabango lo kumbe ukucabangisisa ngawo evumela ukuthi isifiso sakhe sokudla isithelo sikhule. Lanxa wayekhululekile ukudla ezinye izihlahla wakhetha ukucabangisisa ngokwakutshiwo nguSathane mayelana lezithelo zesihlahla esasiphakathi laphakathi kwesivande ‘wasesikha wadla.’ USathane wenza ukuthi u-Eva abe lesifiso sokwenza lokho uMdali wakhe ayengakufuni.

8. Esebenzisa “izinkanuko zabantu,” uSathane wazama njani ukulinga uJesu njalo kungani engaphumelelanga?

⁸ USathane wasebenzisa icebo elifananayo lapho ezama ukulinga uJesu enkangala. UJesu esezile ukudla okwamalanga angu-40 lobusuku obungu-​40, uSathane wazama ukumlinga ngesifiso sokudla. USathane wathi: “Uma uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, tshela ilitshe leli ukuthi libe yisinkwa.” (Luka. 4:1-3) UJesu kwakumele akhethe phakathi kwezinto ezimbili: Wayengakhetha ukuthi angasebenzisi amandla akhe okwenza izimangaliso ukuze asuthise isidingo sakhe sokudla, kumbe wayengakhetha ukuwasebenzisa. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi kakumelanga asebenzise amandla la ukuze anelise izifiso zakhe. Lanxa wayelambile, indlala yakhe yayingaqakathekanga ukwedlula ukulondoloza ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova. UJesu waphendula wathi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Umuntu kaphili ngesinkwa kuphela, kodwa ngelizwi lonke eliphuma emlonyeni kaNkulunkulu.’”​—Mat. 4:4.

“UKULANGAZELA KWAMEHLO”

9. Umutsho othi “ukulangazela kwamehlo” utshoni, njalo uSathane wazama njani ukusebenzisa isifiso sokulangazela kwamehlo endabeni ka-Eva?

⁹ UJohane wathi omunye umjibila ‘ngowokulangazela kwamehlo.’ Umutsho lo utsho ukuthi umuntu angaqalisa ukulangazela ulutho ngokulukhangela nje. Endabeni ka-Eva uSathane wakusebenzisa lokhu lapho esithi: “Amehlo enu azavuleka.” U-Eva waqhubeka esikhangelisisa isithelo ababetshelwe ukuthi bangasidli saze sacina sesimkhanga. Wabona ukuthi isihlahla leso ‘sasibukeka emehlweni.’

10. USathane wakusebenzisa njani “ukulangazela kwamehlo” ukuze alinge uJesu, njalo uJesu wamphendula njani?

¹⁰ Kodwa kwenzakalani endabeni kaJesu? USathane “wamtshengisa masinyane yonke imibuso yomhlaba. Wasesithi kuye, ‘Ngizakunika amandla phezu kwayo kanye lobukhazikhazi bayo.’” (Luka. 4:5, 6) UJesu wayengeke ayibone ngamehlo yonke imibuso khonapho nje, kodwa akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uSathane wayebona angani umbono wobukhazikhazi bemibuso le, wawuzakhanga uJesu. Ngesibindi, uSathane wathi: “Ungaze ungikhonze, konke kuzakuba ngokwakho.” (Luka. 4:7) UJesu kazange afune ukuba ngumuntu uSathane ayefuna abe nguye. UJesu wahle wamphendula masinyane. Wathi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘Khonza iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho, ubambelele kuye yedwa.’”​—Luka. 4:8.

‘UKUZIGQAJA NGEZIMPAHLA’

11. USathane wamhuga njani u-Eva?

¹¹ Ekhuluma ngezinto ezisemhlabeni, uJohane waqamba “lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla.” Kuyazicacela ukuthi ngesikhathi u-Adamu lo-Eva kuyibo bodwa abantu ababesemhlabeni, babengeke ‘bazigqaje ngezimpahla’ phambi kwabanye abantu. Kodwa bazikhukhumeza. Lapho elinga u-Eva, ngamanye amazwi uSathane wayesithi uNkulunkulu umfihlela okuthile okuhle. UDeveli wamtshela ukuthi ‘wayezakuba njengoNkulunkulu, azi okuhle lokubi,’ ngelanga ayezakudla ngalo “isihlahla sokwazi okuhle lokubi.” (Gen. 2:17; 3:5) Yikho-ke uSathane wagudlisela ukuthi u-Eva angaziphilela engabuswa nguJehova. Kusegcekeni ukuthi ukuzikhukhumeza yikho okwamenza wakholwa amanga la. Wasidla isithelo okwakuthwe angasidli, ekholwa ukuthi wayengeke afe. Wayelahlekile sibili!

12. Yiphi enye indlela eyasetshenziswa nguSathane ukuze alinge uJesu njalo uJesu waphendula njani?

¹² UJesu kenzanga njengo-Eva, kodwa wasitshiyela isibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuthobeka! USathane wazama ukumlinga esebenzisa enye indlela kodwa uJesu kazange avumele ngitsho lomcabango wokwenza into yokubukisa eyayizalinga uNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwakungaba yisenzo sokuzikhukhumeza. Kodwa impendulo kaJesu yayicacile futhi ingabhodi. Wathi: ‘Kuthiwa: “Ungayilingi iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho.”’​—Bala uLukha 4:9-12.

SINGABULONDOLOZA NJANI UBUHLOBO BETHU LOJEHOVA?

13, 14. Chasisa ukuthi uSathane uyisebenzisa njani eminye imijibila lamuhla.

¹³ Lamuhla uSathane usebenzisa imijibila efanana laleyo ayisebenzisa ku-Eva loJesu. Esebenzisa “izinkanuko zabantu,” uDeveli wenza ukuthi umhlaba wakhe ukhuthaze ukuziphatha okubi, ukuminza lokudakwa. Esebenzisa iphonogirafi, ikakhulu ebulenjini, angabamba umuntu elibele, abesesebenzisa “ukulangazela kwamehlo.” Kanti njalo labo abazikhukhumezayo labathanda ‘ukuzigqaja ngezimpahla’ balesilingo esikhulu kwezomnotho, ezikhundleni kanye lasekufuneni udumo.

¹⁴ ‘Izinto ezisemhlabeni’ zinjengamawemusi omuntu ogola inhlanzi. Ayakhanga kodwa linye ngalinye liyabe lilewuka. USathane usebenzisa lokho abantu abangakubona njengezidingo zansuku zonke ukuze enze ukuthi bafune ukwenza izinto eziphikisana lemithetho kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa izilingo ezinjalo ezicatshileyo zenzelwe ukuphambanisa izifiso zethu kanye lokonakalisa izinhliziyo zethu. Ziyimizamo yokwenza sikholwe ukuthi izinswelo zethu kanye lesikufunayo kuqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Imijibila le izasebenza yini kithi?

15. Singamlingisela njani uJesu ekulwisaneni lezilingo zikaSathane?

¹⁵ Lanxa u-Eva wanqotshwa yizilingo zikaSathane, uJesu waphumelela ekulwisaneni lazo. Kuzo zonke izikhathi wasebenzisa impendulo eseMibhalweni esithi: “Kulotshiwe,” kumbe esithi ‘Kuthiwa.’ Nxa silifunda zikhathi zonke iBhayibhili, sizayazi kuhle iMibhalo njalo sizenelisa ukukhumbula amavesi angasinceda ukuthi sicabange okuyikho ngesikhathi silingwa. (Hubo. 1:1, 2) Ukukhumbula izibonelo zabantu abathembekileyo abaseMibhalweni ababeqotho kuNkulunkulu kuzasinceda ukuthi sibalingisele. (Roma. 15:4) Ukuhlonipha uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke, sithande akuthandayo njalo sizonde akuzondayo kuzasivikela.​—Hubo. 97:10.

16, 17. ‘Amandla ethu okucabanga’ angenza sibe ngabantu abanjani?

¹⁶ Umphostoli uPhawuli usikhuthaza ukuthi sisebenzise ‘amandla ethu okucabanga’ ukuze sibe ngabantu ababunjwa yimicabango kaNkulunkulu hatshi eyomhlaba lo. (Roma. 12:1, 2, NW) Egcizelela ukuthi kumele sinanzelele kakhulu izinto esizifaka ezingqondweni zethu, uPhawuli wathi: “Sichitha inkani lokuzazisa konke okuzibekayo kumelane lokwazi uNkulunkulu, njalo siyayithumba yonke imicabango ukuba siyenze ibe ngemlalelayo uKhristu.” (2 Kor. 10:5) Ukuthi singabantu abanjani kuya ngokuthi sicabangani, ngakho kumele siqhubeke ‘sicabanga’ ngezinto ezilusizo.​—Flp. 4:8.

¹⁷ Asingeke sibe ngcwele nxa sigcwalisa izingqondo zethu ngemicabango lezifiso ezingaqondanga. Kumele sithande uJehova ‘ngenhliziyo emhlophe.’ (1 Tim. 1:5) Kodwa inhliziyo iyakhohlisa njalo kwezinye izikhathi asingeke sinanzelele ukuthi ‘izinto ezisemhlabeni’ zisithinta kakhulu. (Jer. 17:9) Yikho-ke, kumele sihlale ‘sizihlola ukuba sibone langabe sisekukholweni; sizihlole,’ ngokuzikhangela sisebenzisa esikufunda eBhayibhilini, singaziqambeli amanga.​—2 Kor. 13:5.

18, 19. Kungani kumele uzimisele ukuba ngumuntu oziphatha ngendlela uJehova ayifunayo?

¹⁸ Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi silwisane ‘lezinto ezisemhlabeni’ yikuhlala sikhumbula amazwi kaJohane aphefumulelwayo athi: “Umhlaba lezinkanuko zawo kuyadlula, kodwa umuntu owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uphila kuze kube nininini.” (1 Joha. 2:17) Umumo wezinto kaSathane ukhanya ungokoqobo njalo uyinto ezahlala ikhona. Kodwa ngelinye ilanga uzaphela. Konke esikuthola emhlabeni kaSathane ngokwesikhatshana. Ukukhumbula lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi singahugwa yimijibila yakhe.

¹⁹ Umphostoli uPhetro usitshela ukuthi sibe ngabantu abamukelwa nguNkulunkulu ngesikhathi ‘sisalindele silangatha ukufika kosuku lukaNkulunkulu, usuku oluzancibilikisa izulu ngomlilo, konke kutshiswe kuncibilike.’ (2 Pet. 3:12, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Sekuseduze ukuthi usuku lolu lufike njalo uJehova uzatshabalalisa zonke izingxenye zomhlaba kaSathane. Lingakafiki ilanga lelo, uSathane uzaqhubeka esebenzisa ‘izinto ezisemhlabeni’ ukuthi asilinge, ngendlela alinga ngayo u-Eva loJesu. Akumelanga sibe njengo-Eva ngokufuna ukusuthisa izifiso zethu. Ukwenza njalo kungatsho ukuthi siyavuma ukuthi uSathane ungunkulunkulu wethu. Kumele sibe njengoJesu silwisane lezinto lezi ezihugayo kungelandaba lokuthi zikhanya zikhwabitheka njani kumbe zibukeka kangakanani. Munye ngamunye wethu kazimisele ukuba ngumuntu oziphatha ngendlela uJehova ayifunayo.