Kutheni Sifanele Sikulumkele Ukunqula Izithixo?
“Bantwanana, zigcineni kuzo izithixo.”—1 YOHANE 5:21.
1. Kutheni unqulo lukaYehova lungenanto yakwenza nonqulo-zithixo?
UYEHOVA akasosithixo esenziwe ngesinyithi, ngomthi, okanye ngelitye. Akanakuhlaliswa kwitempile yasemhlabeni. Ekubeni enguMoya onamandla onke, ongabonakaliyo ebantwini, akunakwenzeka ukuba kwenziwe umfanekiso wakhe oqingqiweyo. Ngenxa yoko, unqulo lokwenyaniso lukaYehova lufanele lungabi nanto yakwenza ngokupheleleyo nonqulo-zithixo.—Eksodus 33:20; IZenzo 17:24; 2 Korinte 3:17.
2. Yiyiphi imibuzo esifanele siyiqwalasele?
2 Ngoko, ukuba ungumnquli kaYehova, usenokwenza kakuhle ukubuza oku, ‘Kuyintoni ukunqula izithixo? Abakhonzi bakaYehova baye bakwazi njani ukukuphepha ngaphambili? Ibe kutheni sifanele sikulumkele ukunqula izithixo namhlanje?’
Oko Kukuko Ukunqula Izithixo
3, 4. Kusenokuchazwa njani ukunqula izithixo?
3 Ngokuqhelekileyo, ukunqula izithixo kubandakanya umbhiyozo okanye isithethe. Ukunqula izithixo kukuhlonela, ukuthanda, ukunqula, okanye ukubhedesha isithixo. Yaye siyintoni isithixo? Ngumfanekiso oqingqiweyo, omela into ethile, okanye umfanekiselo wento onqulwayo. Ngokufuthi, xa kunqulwa izithixo sukuba kunqulwa amandla okwenene okanye ekuthelekelelwa ukuba ongamile nekukholelwa ukuba ayaphila (umntu, isilwanyana, okanye intlangano ethile). Kodwa kwanezinto ezingaphiliyo (amandla okanye into ethile engaphiliyo ngokwemvelo) zisenokunqulwa njengezithixo.
4 EZibhalweni, amagama esiHebhere abhekisela kwizithixo ngokufuthi abethelela ukungaxabiseki, okanye ngamagama abonakalisa indelelo. Phakathi kwawo kukho amagama aguqulelwa ngokuthi “umfanekiso okroliweyo okanye oqingqiweyo” (ngokoqobo okuthetha ukuthi, into ekroliweyo); “umfanekiso otyhidiweyo, umfanekiso oqingqiweyo, okanye isithixo” (into ebunjiweyo okanye etyhidiweyo); “isithixo esilisikizi”; “isithixo esingento” (ngokoqobo, esililize); nelithi “isigodo esisithixo.” Igama lesiGrike elithi eiʹdo·lon liguqulelwa ngokuthi “isithixo.”
5. Kutheni kunokuthiwa asiyiyo yonke imifanekiso eqingqiweyo ezizithixo?
5 Asiyiyo yonke imifanekiso eqingqiweyo ezizithixo. UThixo waxelela amaSirayeli ukuba enzele ityeya yomnqophiso iikherubhi ezimbini zegolide nokuba aluke imifuziselo yezo zidalwa zomoya kwisigqubuthelo esingaphakathi samalengalenga alishumi omnquba nakumkhusane owahlula iNgcwele kwiNgcwele kaNgcwele. (Eksodus 25:1, 18; 26:1, 31-33) Yayingababingeleli ababesebenza apho kuphela ababeyibona le mifuziselo eyayimela ngokuyintloko iikherubhi zasezulwini. (Thelekisa amaHebhere 9:24, 25.) Kucace mhlophe ukuba imifuziselo yeekherubhi eyayisemnqubeni yayingafanele kunqulwa, ekubeni izithunywa ezingamalungisa zingazange zikwamkele ukunqulwa.—Kolose 2:18; ISityhilelo 19:10; 22:8, 9.
Imbono KaYehova Ngokunqula Izithixo
6. Iyintoni imbono kaYehova ngokunqula izithixo?
6 Abakhonzi bakaYehova bayakulumkela ukunqula izithixo kuba uchasene nazo zonke izenzo zokunqula izithixo. UThixo wayalela amaSirayeli ukuba angazenzeli imifanekiso eqingqiweyo njengezinto awayeya kuzihlonela aze azinqule. Phakathi kweMithetho Elishumi kufumaneka la mazwi: “Uze ungazenzeli umfanekiso oqingqiweyo, nokuba ngowayiphi na into emilise esezulwini phezulu, nesemhlabeni phantsi, nesemanzini aphantsi komhlaba. Uze ungaqubudi kwezo nto, ungazikhonzi: kuba mna, Yehova Thixo wakho, ndinguThixo onekhwele, ndibuvelela ubugwenxa booyise koonyana, kwesesithathu nakwesesine isizukulwana sabandithiyileyo; ndiwenzela inceba amawaka abandithandayo, abayigcinayo imithetho yam.”—Eksodus 20:4-6.
7. Kutheni uYehova ekuchasile konke ukunqula izithixo?
7 Kutheni uYehova ekuchasile konke ukunqula izithixo? Ngokusisiseko kungenxa yokuba ufuna kunqulwe yena kuphela, njengoko kuboniswe ngasentla kumthetho wesibini kwiMithetho Elishumi. Ngaphezu koko, ngomprofeti wakhe uIsaya wathi: “NdinguYehova, lilo elo igama lam; andiluniki omnye uzuko lwam, nendumiso yam andiyiniki imifanekiso eqingqiweyo.” (Isaya 42:8) Ngaxa lithile, amaSirayeli abanjiswa kukunqula izithixo ukusa kumkhamo wokuba ade ‘abingelele ngoonyana bawo nangeentombi zawo kwiidemon.’ (INdumiso 106:36, 37) Abantu abanqula izithixo abakhanyeli nje kuphela into yokuba uYehova unguThixo wenyaniso kodwa kwakhona bakhonza izilangazelelo zoMchasi wakhe oyintloko, uSathana, ndawonye needemon.
Ukunyaniseka Phantsi Kovavanyo
8. Luluphi uvavanyo olwalujamelene namaHebhere amathathu uShadraki, uMeshaki noAbhede-nego?
8 Kwakhona ukunyaniseka kuYehova kukwasenza sikulumkele ukunqula izithixo. Oku kuboniswa sisiganeko esibhalwe kuDaniyeli isahluko 3. Ukuze awumisele ngokusesikweni umfanekiso omkhulu wegolide awayewenzile, ukumkani waseBhabhiloni uNebhukadenetsare wahlanganisa amagosa akhe asebukhosini. Phakathi kwawo kwakukho uShadraki, uMeshaki noAbhede-nego—amaHebhere amathathu awayenegunya emazweni aseBhabhiloni. Bonke ababekho babefanele baqubude phambi kwaloo mfanekiso oqingqiweyo xa kukhala izixhobo ezithile zomculo. Lo yayiyingumzamo wothixo wokwenene waseBhabhiloni, uSathana, wokuba enze la maHebhere mathathu aqubude phambi komfanekiso oqingqiweyo omela uBukhosi baseBhabhiloni. Khawuzithelekelele ulapho.
9, 10. (a) Kukuphi ukuma okwathatyathwa ngamaHebhere amathathu, yaye avuzwa njani? (b) Luluphi ukhuthazo amaNgqina kaYehova anokulufumana kwihambo yamaHebhere amathathu?
9 Khangela! AmaHebhere amathathu ame bhuxe. Akhumbula umthetho kaThixo onxamnye nokwenziwa nokukhonzwa kwezithixo okanye imifanekiso eqingqiweyo. UNebhukadenetsare uwasongela okokugqibela—esithi makaqubude okanye angafileyo! Kodwa ngokunyaniseka kuYehova athi: “Ukuba uThixo wethu esimbusayo unako, wosisindisa ezikweni elivutha umlilo, nasesandleni sakho, kumkani. Ke, ukuba akunjalo, makwazeke kuwe, kumkani, ukuba asiyi kubabusa othixo bakho, asiyi kuqubuda kumfanekiso wegolide owumisileyo.”—Daniyeli 3:16-18.
10 Aba bakhonzi bakaThixo banyanisekileyo baphoswa edikeni lomlilo elibaswe ngeyona ndlela ingathethekiyo. Emangaliswe kukubona abantu abane behambahamba kwelo ziko, uNebhukadenetsare uyawabiza la maHebhere mathathu ukuba aphume apho, ibe aphuma engonzakalanga. Ngenxa yoko ukumkani uyadanduluka: “Makabongwe uThixo kaShadraki, kaMeshaki, ka-Abhede-nego osithumileyo isithunywa sakhe [umntu wesine kwelo ziko], wabasindisa abakhonzi bakhe, ababekholose ngaye, baligqitha ilizwi lokumkani, bayinikela imizimba yabo, ukuba bangabusi, bangaqubudi, kuthixo nonguwuphi, ongenguye uThixo wabo. . . . Ngenxa enokuba kungekho thixo wumbi, unako ukuhlangula ngolo luhlobo.” (Daniyeli 3:28, 29) Ukugcina ingqibelelo kwaloo maHebhere mathathu kulukhuthazo kumaNgqina kaYehova anamhlanje lokuba anyaniseke kuThixo, alondoloze ubundilele ehlabathini, aze aphephe ukunqula izithixo.—Yohane 17:16.
Izithixo Ziyoyiswa Enkundleni
11, 12. (a) Yiyiphi ingxelo ebandakanya uYehova noothixo abazizithixo uIsaya awayibhalayo? (b) Baqhuba njani oothixo beentlanga xa bacelw’ umngeni nguYehova?
11 Esinye isizathu sokukulumkela ukunqula izithixo sikukuba ukuhlonela izithixo akuncedi nganto. Nakuba ezinye izithixo ezenziwe ngumntu zisenokubonakala ngathi ziyaphila—ngokufuthi zinemilomo, amehlo neendlebe—azikwazi ukuthetha, ukubona, okanye ukuva yaye azikwazi ukubenzela nto abo bazinqulayo. (INdumiso 135:15-18) Oku kwabonakaliswa ngenkulungwane yesibhozo Ngaphambi kweXesha Eliqhelekileyo, xa umprofeti kaThixo njengoko kubhalwe kuIsaya 43:8-28, ngokungathi kunjalo, wabhala ngetyala lasenkundleni elaliphakathi koYehova noothixo abazizithixo. Kulo kwakukho abantu bakaThixo amaSirayeli kwelinye icala, kwelinye iziintlanga zehlabathi. UYehova wabacel’ umngeni oothixo beentlanga ukuba baxele “izinto zangaphambili,” baprofete ngokuchanileyo. Akukho namnye owakwaziyo ukwenjenjalo. Ephethukela kubantu bakhe, uYehova wathi: “Ningamangqina am . . . [yaye] ndinguThixo.” Iintlanga azizange zikwazi ukungqina ukuba oothixo bazo babekho ngaphambi koYehova okanye babenako ukuprofeta. Kodwa uYehova wakuxela kwangaphambili ukutshatyalaliswa kweBhabhiloni nokukhululwa kwabantu bakhe ababesekuthinjweni.
12 Ngokungakumbi, njengoko kuchazwe kuIsaya 44:1-8, abakhonzi bakaThixo abahlangulwayo babeya kuthi ‘babengabakaYehova.’ Yena wathi: “Ndingowokuqala, ndingowokugqibela; akukho Thixo ingendim.” Oothixo abazizithixo abakwazi ukuzithethelela. UYehova uyaphinda uthi ngabantu bakhe: “Ningamangqina am,” aze ongezelele oku: “Kukho Thixo na, ingendim? Akukho liwa.”
13. Ukunqula izithixo kutyhila ntoni ngomntu lowo uzinqulayo?
13 Kwakhona siyakulumkela ukunqula izithixo kuba ukubandakanyeka kuko kubonisa ukungabi nabulumko. Umenzi wezithixo usebenzisa inxalenye yomthi awukhethayo aze enze uthixo wokunqulwa, ibe ngenye inxalenye ulumeka umlilo aze aziphekele ukutya. (Isaya 44:9-17) Obunjani bona ubudenge! Kwakhona umenzi nomnquli wezithixo uyahlazeka kuba engenako ukunikela ubungqina obeyisayo bokungqina ubuthixo bazo. Kodwa ubuThixo bukaYehova abunakuthandatyuzwa, kuba akazange akuxele kwangaphambili kuphela ukukhululwa kwabantu bakhe eBhabhiloni kodwa kwakhona wakwenza oku. IYerusalem yaphinda yanabemi, isixeko sakwaYuda saphinda sakhiwa, yaye ‘amanzi enzonzobila’ aseBhabhiloni—uMlambo umEfrati—awazange akwazi ukuyikhusela. (Isaya 44:18-27) Kwakhona njengoko uThixo waxela kwangaphambili, uKoreshi ongumPersi wayoyisa iBhabhiloni.—Isaya 44:28–45:6.
14. KwiNkundla Ephakamileyo Yendalo Iphela, yintoni eya kungqinwa ngonaphakade?
14 Izithixo eziyimifanekiso eqingqiweyo azizange ziphumelele kwelo tyala liphathelele ubuthixo. Yaye ngokuqinisekileyo oko kwehlela iBhabhiloni kuya kwehlela oko kuyifanekiselayo namhlanje, iBhabhiloni Enkulu, ubukhosi behlabathi bonqulo lobuxoki. Yona nabo bonke oothixo bayo, iimpahla zonqulo nezinto zonqulo-zithixo kungekudala ziya kunyamalala ngonaphakade. (ISityhilelo 17:12–18:8) KwiNkundla Ephakamileyo Yendalo Iphela, kuya kungqinwa ngonaphakade ukuba nguYehova kuphela uThixo ophilayo noyinyaniso nokuba uyalizalisekisa iLizwi lakhe lesiprofeto.
Amadini Enzelwa Iidemon
15. Yintoni eyaboniswa ngumoya oyingcwele naliqumrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala ngokuphathelele abantu bakaYehova nokunqula izithixo?
15 Kwakhona abantu bakaYehova bayakulumkela ukunqula izithixo kuba bakhokelwa ngumoya nentlangano kaThixo. Iqumrhu elilawulayo labakhonzi bakaYehova benkulungwane yokuqala lawaxelela oku amaKristu elalikhonza nawo: “Kuba kwabonakala kulungile kuye uMoya oyiNgcwele, nakuthi, ukuba kungabekwa phezu kwethu mthwalo ungaphezu kwezi ndawo zifunekayo: zokuba nizile izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo, negazi, nento ekrwitshiweyo, nombulo; enothi nakuzigcina kuzo, nibe niyalungisa. Hlalani kakuhle.”—IZenzo 15:28, 29.
16. Ngawakho amazwi, ungakuchaza njani oko uPawulos wakuthethayo ngezinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo?
16 Esinye isizathu sokuba sikulumkele ukunqula izithixo kukuze siphephe ubudemon. Ngokuphathelele iSidlo SeNkosi Sangokuhlwa, umpostile uPawulos wawaxelela oku amaKristu aseKorinte: “Kubalekeni ukubusa izithixo. . . . Indebe yentsikelelo le siyisikelelayo, asibubudlelane na begazi likaKristu? Isonka esi sisiqhekezayo, asibubudlelane na bomzimba kaKristu? Ngokuba thina, sibaninzi nje, sisonka sinye, simzimba mnye, kuba sonke sabelana ngeso sonka sinye. Khangelani abangamaSirayeli ngokwenyama. Abo bawadlayo amadini, abadlelani nesibingelelo eso, yini na? Ndithini na ke ngoko? Ndithi isithixo siyinto na? Ndithi, amadini enzelwa izithixo ayinto na? Anditsho! Ndithi, amadini eziwenzayo iintlanga, ziwenzela iidemon, aziwenzeli uThixo. Andithandi ke ukuba nibe ngamadlelane needemon nina. Aninako ukusela indebe yeNkosi nendebe yeedemon; aninako ukwabelana ngesithebe seNkosi nesithebe seedemon. Siyayikhweletisa na iNkosi? Sinamandla kunayo, yini na?”—1 Korinte 10:14-22.
17. Ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, kuphantsi kwaziphi iimeko awayenokuthi umKristu atye inyama ebingelelwe kwizithixo, yaye ngoba?
17 Kwakubingelelwa ngenxalenye ethile yesilwanyana kwisithixo, enye inxalenye yayisiya kubabingeleli yaye ethile yayinikwa umnquli lowo ukuba enze umsitho. Noko ke, inxalenye yaloo nyama kusenokuba yayithengiswa. Kwakungacebiseki ukuba umKristu aye kwitempile yezithixo ukuze atye inyama nokuba wayengayityi njengenxalenye yesithethe, kuba oku kwakunokubakhubekisa abanye okanye kumtsalele kunqulo lobuxoki. (1 Korinte 8:1-13; ISityhilelo 2:12, 14, 18, 20) Ukunikela ngesilwanyana kwisithixo kwakungayitshintshi inyama, ngoko umKristu wayesenokuyithenga inxalenye yayo kwindawo yentengiso. Kwakhona kwakungeyomfuneko ukuba abuze ngomthombo wenyama ayiphakelwayo ekhayeni lomnye umntu. Kodwa ukuba ubani othile uye wathi loo nyama “lidini elenzelwe izithixo,” wayengayi kuyitya, ukuze aphephe ukukhubekisa abanye.—1 Korinte 10:25-29.
18. Kunokwenzeka njani ukuba abo batya inyama ebingelelwe kwisithixo babandakanyeke kunye needemon?
18 Ngokufuthi kwakucingwa ukuba emva komsitho wokunyusa amadini, inyama leyo yayisiba naloo thixo ibe wayengena emizimbeni yabo babeyitya kumsitho wabanquli. Njengoko abantu ababesitya ndawonye babesakha umanyano phakathi kwabo, ngoko abo babesitya izilwanyana ezazingamadini babenenxaxheba kwisibingelelo yaye babenobudlelane nothixo wobudemon owayemelwa sisithixo eso. Ngonqulo-zithixo olunjalo, iidemon zazibangela abantu bangamnquli okuphela koThixo oyinyaniso. (Yeremiya 10:1-15) Ayimangalisi into yokuba abantu bakaYehova kwakufuneka bazigcine bekude nezinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo! Kwakhona ukunyaniseka kuThixo, ukwamkela ukukhokelwa ngumoya oyingcwele nayintlangano yakhe nokuzimisela ukuphepha ukuba nento yokwenza nobudemon kungqineka kuzizinto ezinamandla zokusishukumisela ukuba sikulumkele ukunqula izithixo namhlanje.
Kutheni Kufuneka Silumke?
19. Luhlobo luni lokunqula izithixo olwalukho kwiEfese yamandulo?
19 Ngenkuthalo amaKristu ayakulumkela ukunqula izithixo kuba kuziindlela ezininzi, yaye kwanesenzo nje esinye sokunqula izithixo sinokubangela ukulalanisa kukholo lwawo. Umpostile uYohane wawaxelela oku amakholwa awayekhonza nawo: “Zigcineni kuzo izithixo.” (1 Yohane 5:21) Esi siluleko sasifuneka kuba ayengqongwe ziindlela ezininzi zonqulo-zithixo. UYohane wabhala oku ese-Efese, isixeko esasizele zizenzo zobugqi neentsomi ngoothixo bobuxoki. IEfese yayinenye yezinto ezisixhenxe ezimangalisayo ehlabathini—itempile ka-Artemis, indawo yokuzimela yezaphuli-mthetho neziko lemibhiyozo yokuziphatha okubi. Isithandi sobulumko uHeracleitus wase-Efese wafanisa indlela emnyama eya kwisibingelelo saloo tempile nobumnyama bokungcola, yaye wayekugqala ukuziphatha kwabantu ababenento yokwenza naloo tempile kukubi ngakumbi kunoko kwamarhamncwa asendle. Ngaloo ndlela, amaKristu ase-Efese ayefanele ame eqinile nxamnye nobudemon, ukuziphatha okubi nokunqula izithixo.
20. Kutheni kuyimfuneko ukuphepha kwaneyona ndlela ingacacanga yokunqula izithixo?
20 AmaKristu afanele azimisele ngamandla ukuphepha kwaneyona ndlela ingacacanga yokunqula izithixo kuba isenzo nje esinye sokunqula uMtyholi siya kumxhasa kwibango lakhe lokuba abantu abayi kuhlala bethembekile kuThixo phantsi kovavanyo. (Yobhi 1:8-12) Xa wabonisa uYesu “zonke izikumkani zehlabathi, nozuko lwazo,” uSathana wathi: “Zonke ezi zinto ndokunika, ukuba uthe wawa phantsi waqubuda kum.” Ukungavumi kukaKristu kwaxhasa icala likaYehova lembambano yolongamo lwendalo iphela ibe kwangqina uMtyholi elixoki.—Mateyu 4:8-11; IMizekeliso 27:11.
21. Ngokuphathelele umlawuli waseRoma, yintoni amaKristu athembekileyo awalayo ukuyenza?
21 Nabalandeli bakaYesu bokuqala babengayi kuqubuda baze baxhase icala likaSathana lembambano. Nangona babewalulamela ngokufanelekileyo “amagunya awongamileyo” aseburhulumenteni, babengayi kwenza iziqhumiso ukuze babonakalise intlonelo kumlawuli waseRoma, nokuba oko kwakubangela ukuba baphulukane nobomi babo. (Roma 13:1-7) Ngokuphathelele oku uDaniel P. Mannix wabhala oku: “Ambalwa gqitha amaKristu awarhoxobisayo, nangona ngokuqhelekileyo isibingelelo esasinomlilo ovuthayo sasigcinwa elubala kwibala lezemidlalo ukwenzela ukuba afikelele lula kuso. Ekuphela kwento umbanjwa awayefanele ayenze yayikukufafaza intwana yesiqhumiso emlilweni ibe wayenikwa isiQinisekiso seDini aze akhululwe. Kwakhona wayecaciselwa ngenyameko ukuba wayenganquli umlawuli lowo; kuphela wayebonakalisa ukuqonda kwakhe ukuba umlawuli lowo wayemela uThixo njengentloko yelizwana laseRoma. Sekunjalo, phantse onke amaKristu awazange alixhakamfule ithuba elinjalo lokusinda.” (Those About to Die, iphepha 137) Ukuba ubuvavanywe ngendlela efanayo, ngaba ubuya kukuxhathisa ngokupheleleyo konke ukunqula izithixo?
Ngaba Uya Kukulumkela Ukunqula Izithixo?
22, 23. Kutheni ufanele ukulumkele ukunqula izithixo?
22 Ngokucacileyo, amaKristu afanele azilumkele zonke iindlela zokunqula izithixo. UYehova ufuna sizinikele kuye kuphela. AmaHebhere amathathu athembekileyo amisela umzekelo omhle ngokungavumi ukunqula umfanekiso omkhulu owawumiswe ngukumkani waseBhabhiloni uNebhukadenetsare. Kwityala lenkundla yendalo iphela elibhalwe ngumprofeti uIsaya, nguYehova kuphela owabonakala enguThixo oyinyaniso nophilayo. Amangqina akhe angamaKristu okuqala kwakufuneka azinxweme kwizinto ezazibingelelwe kwizithixo. Abaninzi kubo ababethembekile abazange banikezele kwingcinezelo yokwenza kwanokuba sibe sinye isenzo sokunqula izithixo esasiya kubandakanya ukumkhanyela uYehova.
23 Ngoko ke, ngaba wena ngokobuqu ukulumkele ukunqula izithixo? Ngaba uzinikela kuThixo kuphela? Ngaba uyaluxhasa ulongamo lukaYehova uze umphakamise njengoThixo oyinyaniso nophilayo? Ukuba kunjalo, ufanele uzimisele ukuqhubeka umi uqinile nxamnye noqheliselo lokunqula izithixo. Kodwa ziziphi ezinye iingongoma eziseZibhalweni ezinokukunceda uzilumkele zonke iindlela zokunqula izithixo?
Ucinga Ntoni?
◻ Kuyintoni ukunqula izithixo?
◻ Kutheni uYehova ekuchasile konke ukunqula izithixo?
◻ Kukuphi ukuma amaHebhere amathathu akuthabathayo ngokuphathelele ukunqula izithixo?
◻ Kunokwenzeka njani ukuba abo batya inyama ebingelelwe kwizithixo babandakanyeke kunye needemon?
◻ Kutheni sifanele sikulumkele ukunqula izithixo?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
Nakuba ubomi bawo babusongelwa, amaHebhere amathathu ayengayi kubandakanyeka ekunquleni izithixo