ISAHLUKO 7
Uyakuqakathekisa Yini Ukuphila njengoNkulunkulu?
“Kuwe kulomthombo wokuphila.”—IHUBO 36:9.
1, 2. Yisiphi isipho esiligugu esivela kuNkulunkulu, njalo kungani siqakathekile?
UBABA wethu osezulwini usiphe isipho esiligugu, okuyisipho sokuphila singabantu abahlakaniphileyo abenelisa ukutshengisa ubuntu obuhle bukaNkulunkulu. (UGenesisi 1:27) Ngenxa yalesisipho esiligugu siyazizwisisa izimiso zeBhayibhili lokuthi zisinceda njani. Ngakho lapho sisebenzisa izimiso lezi, siba ngabantu abakhulileyo ngokomoya, abathanda uJehova njalo “abalamandla okucabanga aqeqetshelwe ukwehlukanisa okubi lokuhle.”—KumaHebheru 5:14, NW.
2 Ukwenelisa ukubona ukuthi izimiso zeBhayibhili singazisebenzisa njani kulezinsuku kuqakathekile kakhulu. Okwenza kube njalo yikuthi umhlaba usulokunengi okungazwisisekiyo okwenzakalayo okokuthi akulamithetho enelayo engasetshenziswa ezimweni ezitsheyeneyo ezingavuka empilweni. Isayensi ephathelane lezokwelapha yenza ucace lo mcijo lapho kukhulunywa ngokulungiswayo lalokho okufanele kulandelwe okuphathelane legazi. Lolu ludaba oluqakathekileyo kubo bonke abafuna ukulalela uJehova. Loba kunjalo, nxa sizwisisa izimiso zeBhayibhili esingazisebenzisa, kumele senze izinqumo ezitshengisa ukuhlakanipha ezizakwenza umzwangedwa wethu ukhululeke njalo zisigcine sisethandweni lukaNkulunkulu. (IZaga 2:6-11) Hlola ezinye zalezizimiso.
UKUPHILA KANYE LEGAZI KUNGCWELE
3, 4. Ubungcwele begazi bavezwa nini eMibhalweni, njalo busekelwe kuziphi izimiso?
3 UJehova waqala ukuveza ubudlelwano obukhona phakathi kwegazi lokuphila njalo lobungcwele bakho ngemva kokuba uKhayini esebulele u-Abela. UNkulunkulu wathi kuKhayini, “Lalela! Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisuka emhlabathini.” (UGenesisi 4:10) Ngombono kaJehova, igazi lika-Abela lalimelela ukuphila kwakhe, okwakususwe ngesihluku. Ngamanye amazwi, igazi lika-Abela lalikhalela ukuthi uNkulunkulu aphindisele.—KumaHebheru 12:24.
4 Ngemva kukaZamcolo wesikhathi sikaNowa, uNkulunkulu wanika abantu imvumo yokudla inyama yezinyamazana kodwa hatshi igazi lazo. UNkulunkulu wathi, ‘Kodwa inyama okukuyo ukuphila, okutsho igazi, kalisoze liyidle. Kuwo wonke umuntu ngizabiza ukuphila kwakhe.’ (UGenesisi 9:4, 5, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Umlayo lo usetshenziswa yibo bonke abazukulu bakaNowa kuze kube lamuhla. Lokho kuvumelana lalokho uNkulunkulu ayekutshilo kuKhayini lapho esithi, ukuphila kwazo zonke izidalwa kumelwa ligazi. Isiphetho lesi sitshiya kungelambuzo ukuthi uJehova, uMthombo wokuphila, uzabajezisa bonke labo abangahloniphi ukuphila kanye legazi.—IHubo 36:9.
5, 6. UMthetho kaMosi watshengisa njani ukuthi igazi lingcwele njalo liligugu? (Bona ibhokisi elithi “Hlonipha Ukuphila Kwezinyamazana“.)
5 Izimiso lezi ezimbili eziqakatheke kakhulu zazibonakala eMthethweni kaMosi. ULevi 17:10, 11 uthi, ‘Loba nguwuphi umuntu . . . ozakudla loba yiliphi igazi—ngizamelana laye odla igazi ngimxotshe phakathi kwabantu bakibo. Ngoba impilo yesidalwa isegazini, njalo ngiliphile ukuthi lenze ukubuyisana kwenu e-alithare; kuligazi elenza ukubuyisana empilweni yomuntu.’a—Bona ibhokisi elithi “Igazi Lilamandla Okuhlawulela.”
6 Nxa igazi lenyamazana lalingasetshenziswanga e-alithare, kwakumele lithululelwe phansi emhlabathini. Ngamanye amazwi, ukuphila kwakubuyiselwa kuMnikazi wakho. (UDutheronomi 12:16; UHezekheli 18:4) Nanzelela ukuthi abako-Israyeli babengamelanga badlulise amalawulo ngokuzama ukukhipha wonke amathonsi egazi enyameni yenyamazana. Nxa kuphela inyamazana iqunywe kuhle yophiswa, umIsrayeli wayengadla elomzwangedwa omuhle, ngoba lokhu kwakuzabe kutshengisa ukuhlonipha uMniki wokuphila.
7. UDavida watshengisa njani ukuthi uyabuhlonipha ubungcwele begazi?
7 UDavida, “indoda ethandwa yinhliziyo [kaNkulunkulu],” wazwisisa izimiso zomthetho kaNkulunkulu mayelana legazi. (ImiSebenzi 13:22) Ngelinye ilanga omele amanzi, amadoda akhe amathathu adabula ethenteni lesitha, akha amanzi emthonjeni futhi amphathela. Wenzani uDavida? UDavida wabuza: “Akusigazi labantu abahambe befake ukuphila kwabo engozini na?” Ngokombono kaDavida, ukunatha amanzi la kwakufanana lokunatha igazi lamadoda la. Lanxa wayewomile, “wawathela phambi kukaJehova.”—2 USamuyeli 23:15-17.
8, 9. Umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila legazi wantshintsha yini lapho kuqalwa ibandla lobuKhristu? Chasisa.
8 Ngemva kweminyaka engu-2 400 uNowa ephiwe umlayo ophathelane legazi njalo ngemva kwengu-1 500 kwenziwe isivumelwano soMthetho, uJehova waphefumulela iqula elibusayo lebandla lobuKhristu lakuqala ukuthi libhale: “Kubonakale kufanele kumoya ongcwele lakithi ukuthi singalisindisi ngalutho bani ngaphandle kwezimiso ezilandelayo: Xwayani ukudla okunikelwe izithombe, ububende [igazi], inyama yenyamazana ekhanyiweyo kanye lokuphinga.”—ImiSebenzi 15:28, 29.
9 Kuyacaca ukuthi iqula elibusayo lokuqala lananzelela ukuthi igazi lingcwele lokuthi ukulisebenzisa ngendlela embi kungcole njengokufeba kumbe ukukhonza izithombe. AmaKhristu eqiniso lamuhla ayakwamukela lokho. Ngenxa yokuthi bacabanga njalo benze ngokuvumelana lezimiso zeBhayibhili, bayamjabulisa uJehova lapho besenza izinqumo ngendlela abasebenzisa ngayo igazi.
UKUSETSHENZISWA KWEGAZI KWEZOKWELAPHA
Ngingamchasisela njani udokotela ngesinqumo sami ngendaba yezingxenye ezincane zegazi?
10, 11. (a) OFakazi bakaJehova bakubona njani ukufakwa igazi lilonke kumbe izingxenye zalo ezilibumbayo? (b) Endabeni yegazi, yiziphi izimo ezingenza amaKhristu abe lemibono etshiyeneyo?
10 OFakazi bakaJehova bayakuzwisisa ukuthi ‘ukuxwaya ububende loba igazi’ kutsho ukungavumi ukufakwa igazi loba ukupha elabo igazi kumbe ukuligcina ukuze baphinde balifakwe. Ngenxa yokuthi bayawuhlonipha umthetho kaNkulunkulu, kabamukeli futhi izingxenye ezine eziqakathekileyo ezibumba igazi: ama-cell abomvu lamhlophe, ama-platelet kanye le-plasma.
11 Lamuhla izingxenye lezo ziphinde zehlukaniswe zibe zingxenyana ezincane ezisetshenziswa ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo. UmKhristu angazamukela yini izingxenyana lezi? Uzibona ‘ziligazi’ yini? Ngamunye wethu kumele azinqumele odabeni lolu. Kuyafanana langezinye izindlela zokwelapha ezinjengokuhlanzwa kwegazi kusetshenziswa imitshina (hemodialysis), i-hemodilution, kanye le-cell salvage.—Bona iSengezo esithi “Izingxenyana Zegazi Kanye Lokuhlinzwa.“
12. Kumele sizibone njani futhi siziphathe njani izindaba eziphathelane lomzwangedwa?
12 Izindaba eziphathelane lesinqumo somuntu ngamunye aziqakathekanga yini kuJehova? Ziqakathekile ngoba uJehova ulendaba lesikucabangayo kanye lesikwenzayo. (Bala iZaga 17:3; 24:12.) Ngakho ngemva kokucela uncedo kuJehova lokuchwayisisa ngokuphathelane lokwelatshwa okuthile, kumele silandele umzwangedwa wethu ofundiswe liBhayibhili. (KwabaseRoma 14:2, 22, 23) Kuliqiniso ukuthi abanye akumelanga basinqumele loba thina sibabuze ukuthi “Ubungenzani ukube ubusesimweni esinjengesami?” Ezindabeni ezinje, umKhristu ngamunye kumele “athwale umthwalo wakhe.”b—KwabaseGalathiya 6:5; KwabaseRoma 14:12; bona ibhokisi elithi “Ngilibona Lingcwele Yini Igazi?”
IMITHETHO KAJEHOVA ITSHENGISA UTHANDO LWAKHE NJENGOBABA
13. Imithetho kaJehova kanye lezimiso zakhe kusitshengisani ngaye? Nika isibonelo.
13 Imithetho lezimiso ezitholakala eBhayibhilini zitshengisa ukuthi uJehova unguMniki weMithetho olenhlakanipho lokuthi unguBaba okhathalela kakhulu impilakahle yabantwana bakhe. (IHubo 19:7-11) Lanxa umthetho wokuthi ‘sixwaye ububende loba igazi’ wawungaphiwanga njengesimiso sezempilakahle, uyasivikela ukuze singabi lezinhlupho ezingaba khona ngenxa yokufakwa igazi. (ImiSebenzi 15:20) Abanengi abezokwelapha babona ukuhlinzwa kungasetshenziswa igazi “njengendlela engcono kakhulu” yokwelapha engasetshenziswa lamuhla. EmaKhristwini eqiniso, intuthuko efanana laleyo ifakazela inhlakanipho kaJehova enkulu kakhulu lothando lwakhe olunjengolukababa.—Bala u-Isaya 55:9; UJohane 14:21, 23.
14, 15. (a) Yiphi imithetho etshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabathanda abantu bakhe? (b) Ungazisebenzisa njani izimiso ezisekela imilayo yokuvikeleka?
14 Ukukhathalela kukaNkulunkulu impilakahle yabantu bakhe ko-Israyeli wasendulo kwakhanya emithethweni yakhe eminengi. Ngokwesibonelo, wayefuna ukuthi izindlu zabo zibe lothango ephahleni ukuze kungabi lowayo njengoba uphahla lwaluyindawo okwakusenzelwa khona izinto ezinengi. (UDutheronomi 22:8; 1 USamuyeli 9:25, 26; UNehemiya 8:16; ImiSebenzi 10:9) UNkulunkulu walaya lokuthi inkunzi eziyingozi zihlale zilindiwe. (U-Eksodusi 21:28, 29) Ukungalandeli imilayo le kwakutshengisa ukuthi umuntu kahloniphi inhlalakahle yabanye njalo lokhu kwakungenza abe lecala legazi.
15 Ungazisebenzisa njani izimiso ezenza kwaba lemithetho le? Kungani ungacabangisisi ngesimo semota yakho, indlela otshayela ngayo, izifuyo zakho, indlu yakho, indawo yakho yokusebenzela kanye lendlela ozilibazisa ngayo? Kwamanye amazwe, izingozi zemota yizo ezibangela ukufa kwabantu kwabanengi abasakhulayo ngenxa yokuthi bazingenisa ezingozini ebezingabalekelwa. Kodwa abasakhulayo abafuna ukuhlala besethandweni lukaNkulunkulu bayakuqakathekisa ukuphila njalo kabazithokozisi ngezinto eziyingozi. Kabacabangi ngendlela yobuthutha ukuthi ukubamncane kutsho ukuthi ngeke uwele engozini. Kulokuthi benzenjalo, bathokozela ubutsha babo ngokubalekela izinto ezingabalimaza.—UmTshumayeli 11:9, 10.
16. Yisiphi isimiso seBhayibhili esingasetshenziswa endabeni yokukhipha isisu? (Bona lamabala angaphansi.)
16 Impilo yomntwana ongakazalwa layo iligugu kuNkulunkulu. Ko-Israyeli wasendulo, nxa umuntu wayengalimaza umfazi ozithweleyo njalo yena kumbe usane lwakhe lufe ngenxa yalokho, uNkulunkulu wayebona umuntu lowo owenze lokho njengombulali, njalo wayemele abhadale, “impilo ikhwitshizwe ngempilo.”c (Bala u-Eksodusi 21:22, 23.) Cabanga-ke ukuthi uJehova uzwa njani nxa ebona omama abanengi kakhulu bekhipha izisu ngabomo minyaka yonke ukuze babalekele umsebenzi wokukhulisa abantwana njalo ukuze benelise ukuphila impilo yokuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini.
17. Ungamduduza njani umuntu owakhipha isisu ngesikhathi engakafundi izimiso zikaNkulunkulu?
17 Kodwa kungathiwani ngowesifazana owakhipha isisu ngesikhathi engakalazi iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini? Lokho kutsho yini ukuthi uNkulunkulu kangeke amxolele? Hatshi! Iqiniso yikuthi umuntu ophenduka ngeqiniso angathembela ekuthethelelweni nguJehova ngohlelo lwegazi likaJesu elathululwayo. (IHubo 103:8-14; Kwabase-Efesu 1:7) Yikho uKhristu wathi: “Kangilandanga ukubiza abalungileyo, kodwa ukubiza izoni ukuba ziphenduke.”—ULukha 5:32.
UNGABI LEMICABANGO EMIBI!
18. IBhayibhili lithi kuyini okubangela ukuchithwa kwegazi okunengi?
18 Ngaphezu kokungalimazi abanye, uJehova ufuna sisuse inzondo ezinhliziyweni zethu ngoba yiyo ebangela ukuchithwa kwegazi okunengi. Umphostoli uJohane wabhala wathi: “Lowo ozonda umzalwane wakhe ungumbulali.” (1 UJohane 3:15) Umuntu onjalo akamzondi kuphela umfowabo kodwa umfisela lokufa. Inzondo yakhe angayibonisa ngokunyeya loba ukuqambela abanye amanga amakhulu okokuthi nxa lokho akukhulumayo kungabaliqiniso, lowo omangalelwayo angajeziswa nguNkulunkulu. (ULevi 19:16; UDutheronomi 19:18-21; UMathewu 5:22) Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sisebenze nzima ukususa yonke imicabango emibi engaba sezinhliziyweni zethu.—UJakhobe 1:14, 15; 4:1-3.
19. Umuntu okhokhelwa yizimiso zeBhayibhili uyibona njani imibhalo enjengoHubo 11:5 loFiliphi 4:8, 9?
19 Labo abaqakathekisa impilo njengoJehova njalo befuna ukuhlala besethandweni lwakhe bayabalekela udlakela ngezindlela zonke. IHubo 11:5 lithi, ‘Abathanda udlakela umphefumulo [kaJehova] uyabazonda.’ Amazwi la awakhulumi ngobuntu bukaNkulunkulu kuphela, kodwa futhi ayisimiso esisitshela indlela okumele siphile ngayo. Kwenza abalandeli bakaNkulunkulu babalekele loba yiluphi uhlobo lwezokuzilibazisa olungaba lodlakela. Ngakho amazwi athi uJehova ‘unguNkulunkulu wokuthula’ enza izinceku zakhe zigcwalise imicabango lezinhliziyo zazo ngezinto ezithandwayo, ezinhle njalo eziliqiniso, ezilesithunzi lezincomekayo ezenza kube lokuthula.—Bala uFiliphi 4:8, 9.
HLUKANA LEZINHLANGANISO EZILECALA LEGAZI
20-22. AmaKhristu awubona njani umhlaba, futhi kungani kunjalo?
20 Ngokombono kaNkulunkulu, umhlaba kaSathane wonke ulecala legazi. EMibhalweni, ezombangazwe zomhlaba zifananiswa lesilo esesabekayo, futhi zibulale izigidi ezinengi, kugoqela lezinceku zikaJehova. (UDanyeli 8:3, 4, 20-22; ISambulo 13:1, 2, 7, 8) Besebenza ndawonye lababusi laba abanjengesilo, abezokuthengiselana labezesayensi balungise izikhali ezesabisa kakhulu ukwedlula zonke esingazicabanga, futhi besenza amaqubaquba emali. Kuliqiniso ukuthi, “umhlaba wonke ungaphansi kwamandla omubi”!—1 UJohane 5:19.
21 Ngenxa yokuthi abalandeli bakaJesu “kabasibo bomhlaba” njalo kabasekeli ezombangazwe lezempi, babalekela icala legazi njengomuntu ngamunye lanjengomphakathi.d (UJohane 15:19; 17:16) Belandela isibonelo sikaKhristu, abavuki ngodlakela lapho behlukuluzwa. Kulalokho, bayazithanda izitha zabo njalo bayazithandazela.—UMathewu 5:44; KwabaseRoma 12:17-21.
22 AmaKhristu eqiniso ayakubalekela ukuzihlanganisa ‘leBhabhiloni Enkulu,’ umbuso womhlaba wonke wenkolo yamanga njalo yiyo elecala legazi elinengi kakhulu. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi, ‘Kuyo kwafunyanwa igazi labaphrofethi lelabangcwele, kanye lelabo bonke ababulawayo emhlabeni.’ Ngakho siyaxwayiswa ukuthi, “Bantu bami, phumani kuyo.”—ISambulo 17:6; 18:2, 4, 24.
23. Kutshoni ukuphuma eBhabhiloni Enkulu?
23 Ukutshiyana leBhabhiloni Enkulu kugoqela ukucitshisa ibizo lakho ekubeni lilunga layo. Kungatsho lokuzonda imikhuba eyisono evunyelwa yinkolo yamanga enjengokuziphatha kubi emacansini, ukuzihlanganisa lezombangazwe, lesifiso sokufuna inotho ngobuhwaba. (Bala iHubo 97:10; ISambulo 18:7, 9, 11-17) Izinto lezi zibangela ukuchithwa kwegazi okunengi!
24, 25. UNkulunkulu usebenzisa hlelo bani ukubonisa umusa ngalowo ophendukileyo olecala legazi, futhi lokhu kwakusenziwa njani ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili?
24 Singakabi ngamaKhristu eqiniso, sonke sake sasekela umhlaba kaSathane futhi saba lecala legazi ngezinga elithile. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi santshintsha indlela yethu yokuphila, saba lokholo enhlawulweni kaKhristu, sanikela ukuphila kwethu kuNkulunkulu, yena wasamukela futhi wasivikela ezintweni ezingasiphambanisela ubuhlobo bethu laye. (ImiSebenzi 3:19) Isivikelo lesi sasimelelwa ngamadolobho okuphephela ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili.—AmaNani 35:11-15; UDutheronomi 21:1-9.
25 Uhlelo lolu lwalusebenza njani? Nxa umIsrayeli wayengabangela ukufa komuntu ngengozi, kwakumele abalekele kwelinye lamadolobho okuphephela. Ngemva kokuba abahluleli abakhethiweyo sebenze isinqumo ngodaba lolo, lowo muntu obulele omunye ngengozi kwakumele ayehlala kulelidolobho lesiphephelo kuze kube yilapho umphristi omkhulu esifa. Umphristi esefile, umuntu lo wayengakhululeka ukuhlala loba ngaphi. Lesi yisibonelo esihle somusa kaNkulunkulu njalo sitshengisa lendlela aqakathekisa ngayo ukuphila komuntu! Lamuhla okuhambelana lamadolobho esiphephelo asendulo luhlelo lukaNkulunkulu olusekelwe emhlatshelweni wenhlawulo kaKhristu, ukuze asivikele ekufeni nxa sephule imithetho kaNkulunkulu ngengozi, imithetho ekhuluma ngobungcwele begazi kanye lokuphila. Uyaluhlonipha yini loluhlelo? Ungatshengisa njani ukuthi uyaluhlonipha? Enye indlela yikunxusa abanye ukuthi labo babelathi kulelidolobho lesiphephelo elingokomfanekiso, ikakhulu njengoba ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’ kusondela masinyane.—UMathewu 24:21; 2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:1, 2.
QAKATHEKISA UKUPHILA NGOKUTSHUMAYELA UMLAYEZO WOMBUSO
26-28. Isimo sethu lamuhla sifanana njani lesomphrofethi uHezekheli, futhi singahlala njani sisethandweni lukaNkulunkulu?
26 Isimo sabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngezinsuku zethu sisikhumbuza umphrofethi wasendulo uHezekheli, yena owakhethwa nguJehova ukuthi akhonze njengomlindi omemezela izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu endlini ka-Israyeli. UNkulunkulu wathi: “Ngakho zwana ilizwi [lami] engilikhulumayo ubanike isixwayiso esivela kimi.” Kodwa nxa uHezekheli wayengakuthatha lula ayekuthunywe nguNkulunkulu, wayezakuba lomlandu wecala legazi lalabo ababezabulawa lapho iJerusalema libhujiswa. (UHezekheli 33:7-9) Kodwa uHezekheli wayelalela futhi kazange abelecala legazi.
27 Lamuhla siphila esikhathini lapho umhlaba kaSathane ususekucineni kwawo. Ngakho oFakazi bakaJehova bakubona kuyisikwelede njalo kuyisibusiso ukwazisa “ngosuku lwempindiselo” kaNkulunkulu kuhambisana lomlayezo woMbuso. (U-Isaya 61:2; UMathewu 24:14) Uyawenza yini umsebenzi lo oqakathekileyo zikhathi zonke? Umphostoli uPhawuli wenza umsebenzi lo ngenhliziyo yonke. Esewenzile umsebenzi lo, wayengatsho ukuthi: “Kangilacala ngegazi labantu bonke. Phela kangithikazanga ukutshumayela kini yonke intando kaNkulunkulu.” (ImiSebenzi 20:26, 27) Lesi yisibonelo esihle kakhulu ukuthi sisilandele!
28 Kodwa ukuze siqhubeke sijabulela ukunakekelwa nguJehova njengobaba olothando, kulokunye futhi okumele sikwenze okwedlula ukubona igazi kanye lokuphila ngendlela uJehova abona ngayo. Kufanele futhi sihlale sihlanzekile, sibengcwele emehlweni kaJehova njengoba sizabona esahlukweni esilandelayo.
a Mayelana lokwakhulunywa nguNkulunkulu ukuthi “impilo yesidalwa isegazini,” iphephandaba i-Scientific American, lithi “lanxa kuliqiniso ukuthi igazi limelela ukuphila, la mazwi aqotho langendlela engokoqobo ngoba umhlobo we-cell ngalinye wegazi uyafuneka ukuze kube lokuphila.”
b Bona i-Awake! ka-August 2006, amakhasi 3-12, edindwe ngoFakazi bakaJehova.
c Abalobi bezichazamazwi zeBhayibhili bathi indlela amazwi esiHebheru abhalwe ngayo “akwenzeki ukuthi kuthiwe amazwi la akhuluma ngokulimala kowesifazana kuphela.” Qaphela futhi ukuthi iBhayibhili kalikhulumi ngokuthi umntwana lowo osesiswini uyabe elezinyanga ezingaki ukuze uJehova ahlulele.
d Bona iSahluko 5, “Indlela Esingahlala Ngayo Sehlukene Lomhlaba.”
e Bona iSengezo esithi “Izingxenyana Zegazi Kanye Lokuhlinzwa“, ukuze uthole okunye okunengi.