“Hlalani Nilindile”

“Ngoko ke, hlalani nilindile, ngenxa yokuba aniwazi umhla eza ngawo iNkosi yenu.”—MATEYU 24:42.

1. Amagqala angabakhonzi bakaYehova aziva njani ngeminyaka emininzi yenkonzo yawo yokuzinikela? Caphula umzekelo.

ABAKHONZI bakaYehova abaninzi abangamagqala bafunda inyaniso ngoxa babesengabafana namabhinqa aselula. Njengomrhwebi owafumana iperile yexabiso eliphakamileyo waza wathengisa yonke into awayenayo ukuze ayithenge, abo bafundi beBhayibhile abanenzondelelo bazincama baza bahlulela ubomi babo kuYehova. (Mateyu 13:45, 46; Marko 8:34) Bavakalelwa njani kukuba kuye kwafuneka balinde ixesha elidana kunokuba mhlawumbi bebelindele, ukuze babone iinjongo zikaThixo zizaliseka emhlabeni? Abazisoli nakancinane! Bayavumelana noMzalwan’ uA. H. Macmillan, owathi emva kweminyaka emalunga nama-60 yenkonzo yokuzinikela kuThixo: “Ndizimisele ngokungakumbi kunangaphambili ukuba ndibambelele kukholo lwam. Luye lwenza ubomi banentsingiselo kum. Lusandinceda ukuba ndikhangele kwikamva ndingenaloyiko.”

2. (a) Sisiphi isiluleko esisexesheni uYesu awasinika abafundi bakhe? (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esiza kuyiqwalasela kweli nqaku?

² Kuthiwani ngawe? Kungakhathaliseki ukuba umdala kangakanani na, khawuphawule la mazwi kaYesu athi: “Ngoko ke, hlalani nilindile, ngenxa yokuba aniwazi umhla eza ngawo iNkosi yenu.” (Mateyu 24:42) Loo mazwi acacileyo aqulethe inyaniso enzulu. Asiwazi umhla eya kufika ngawo iNkosi ukuze iphumeze umgwebo kule nkqubo ingendawo, yaye akuyomfuneko ukuba siwazi. Kodwa kufuneka siphile ngendlela yokuba xa ifika, singazisoli. Kule nkalo, yiyiphi imizekelo eseBhayibhileni eya kusinceda ukuba sihlale silindile? UYesu wenza wuphi umzekeliso ukubonakalisa imfuneko yoku? Yaye bubuphi ubungqina esinabo namhlanje bokuba siphila kwimihla yokugqibela yeli hlabathi lingahlonel’ uThixo?

Umzekelo Osisilumkiso

3. Abantu abaninzi namhlanje bafana njani nabo bomhla kaNowa?

³ Kwiinkalo ezininzi, abantu banamhlanje bafana namadoda namabhinqa awayephila ngomhla kaNowa. Ngelo xesha umhlaba wawuzaliswe lugonyamelo, yaye konke ukuyila kweengcinga zentliziyo yomntu ‘kwakubububi bodwa imihla yonke.’ (Genesis 6:5) Abaninzi babezixakekise gqitha ngemicimbi yobomi bemihla ngemihla. Noko ke, ngaphambi kokuba azise uNogumbe omkhulu, uYehova wanika abantu ithuba lokuguquka. Wathuma uNowa ukuba ashumayele, yaye uNowa wathobela—ekhonza ‘njengomshumayeli wobulungisa’ mhlawumbi kangangeminyaka engama-40 okanye engama-50 okanye ngaphezulu. (2 Petros 2:5) Noko ke, abantu basityeshela isigidimi sikaNowa esilumkisayo. Babengalindanga. Ngenxa yoko, ekugqibeleni, nguNowa nentsapho yakhe kuphela abasindayo ekuphumezeni kukaYehova umgwebo wakhe.—Mateyu 24:37-39.

4. Kunokutshiwo njani ukuba ubulungiseleli bukaNowa baphumelela, yaye kunokutshiwo njani okufanayo ngomsebenzi wakho wokushumayela?

⁴ Ngaba ubulungiseleli bukaNowa baphumelela? Ungajongi imbinana eyasabelayo. Ngokwenene, ukushumayela kukaNowa kwayiphumeza injongo yako ingakhathaliseki intsabelo yabantu. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba kwanika abantu ithuba elaneleyo lokukhetha enoba bafuna ukukhonza uYehova okanye akunjalo. Kuthiwani ngentsimi oshumayela kuyo? Enoba intsabelo ayintle kangako, uyaphumelela kakhulu. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba ngokushumayela kwakho, uvakalisa isilumkiso sikaThixo, yaye ngaloo ndlela uphumeza uthumo uYesu awalunika abalandeli bakhe.—Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20.

Ukungabakhathaleli Abaprofeti BakaThixo

5. (a) Ziziphi iimeko ezazesamele kwaYuda ngomhla kaHabhakuki, yaye abantu basabela njani kwisigidimi sakhe esisisiprofeto? (b) Abantu bakwaYuda baba neengcwangu njani kubaprofeti bakaYehova?

⁵ Kwiinkulungwane emva koNogumbe, ubukumkani bakwaYuda babusengxakini enzulu. Kwakuxhaphake unqulo zithixo, ukungabikho kokusesikweni, ingcinezelo, nokubulala. UYehova wavelisa uHabhakuki ukuze alumkise abantu ukuba, xa bengaguquki baya kufikelwa yintlekele evela kumaKaledi, okanye kumaBhabhiloni. (Habhakuki 1:5-7) Kodwa abantu abazange bavume ukuphulaphula. Mhlawumbi babeqiqa ngolu hlobo, ‘Kaloku, kwiminyaka eyadlulayo engaphezu kwekhulu, umprofeti uIsaya wavakalisa isilumkiso esifanayo, kodwa akukabikho nto yenzekileyo!’ (Isaya 39:6, 7) Uninzi lwezithwala-ndwe zakwaYuda lwalunganeli nje kukusichasa isigidimi kodwa lwalusiba neengcwangu kubathwali besigidimi. Ngesinye isihlandlo, zazama ukubulala umprofeti uYeremiya, yaye ngezaziphumelele ukuba kwakungazange kungenelele uAhikam. Ecatshukiswe sesinye isigidimi esisisiprofeto, uKumkani uYehoyakim wambulala umprofeti u-Uriya.—Yeremiya 26:21-24.

6. UYehova wamomeleza njani uHabhakuki?

⁶ Isigidimi sikaHabhakuki sasibukhali yaye singamkelekanga ngokufanayo neso sikaYeremiya, owaphefumlelwa nguThixo ukuba axele kwangaphambili ngokuphanziswa kukaYuda iminyaka engama-70. (Yeremiya 25:8-11) Ngoko ke, sinokuyiqonda indlela awayedandatheke ngayo uHabhakuki xa wadanduluka esithi: “Kunini na, Yehova, ndizibika, ungeva; ndikhala kuwe ndisithi, ugonyamelo, ungasindisi?” (Habhakuki 1:2) Ngobubele uYehova wamphendula uHabhakuki ngala mazwi omelez’ ukholo: “Umbono usaya kuba ngowexesha elimisiweyo, ukhawulezela ekupheleni, angathethi wona amanga; ukuba uthe wazilazila, wulinde, kuba uya kuza, awuyi kubuya umva.” (Habhakuki 2:3) Ngoko uYehova ‘wayenexesha elimisiweyo’ lokuphelisa okungekho sikweni nengcinezelo. Ukuba kwakubonakala ngathi kukho ukuzilazila, uHabhakuki wayengamele adimazeke, okanye athobe isantya. Kunoko, kwakufuneka ‘awulinde,’ ephila suku ngalunye enemvo yongxamiseko. Imini kaYehova yayingayi kubuya umva!

7. Kwakutheni ukuze iYerusalem iphawulelwe enye intshabalalo ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo?

⁷ Malunga neminyaka engama-20 emva kokuba uYehova ethethe noHabhakuki, isixeko sakwaYuda esilikomkhulu, iYerusalem, satshatyalaliswa. Sabuya sakhiwa kamva, yaye izinto ezininzi eziphosakeleyo ezazidandathekisa uHabhakuki zalungiswa. Noko ke, ngenkulungwane yokuqala yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, esi sixeko saphinda saphawulelwa intshabalalo ngenxa yokungathembeki kwabemi baso. Ngenceba, uYehova walungiselela ukuba abo bantliziyo zilungileyo basinde. Ngesi sihlandlo, wasebenzisa umprofeti obalaseleyo uYesu Kristu ukuba adlulisele isigidimi. Ngowama-33 C.E., uYesu waxelela abalandeli bakhe oku: “Xa niyibona iYerusalem ingqongwe yimikhosi emise iintente, nandule ke nazi ukuba ukuphanziswa kwayo kusondele. Mabandule ke abo bakwelakwaYuda baqalise ukusabela ezintabeni.”—Luka 21:20, 21.

8. (a) Yintoni ekusenokwenzeka ukuba yehlela amanye amaKristu ekuhambeni kwexesha emva kokufa kukaYesu? (b) Azaliseka njani amazwi esiprofeto sikaYesu ngeYerusalem?

⁸ Ekuhambeni kweminyaka, kusenokwenzeka ukuba amanye amaKristu aseYerusalem ayezibuza ukuba siya kuzaliseka nini na isiprofeto sikaYesu. Ngapha koko, khawuqwalasele iindlela bambi bawo abazincama ngazo. Mhlawumbi ancama amashishini anengeniso awayewanikwa ngenxa yokuzimisela kwawo ukuba ahlale elindile. Ngaba atyhafa ekuhambeni kwexesha? Ngaba agqiba kwelokuba ayechitha ixesha lawo, eqiqa ngelokuba amazwi kaYesu abhekisela kwisizukulwana esilandelayo, kungekhona esawo? Ngowama-66 C.E., isiprofeto sikaYesu saqalisa ukuzaliseka xa imikhosi yaseRoma yangqonga iYerusalem. Lawo ayelindile awuphawula lo mqondiso, asaba esixekweni, yaye asindiswa xa iYerusalem yayiphanziswa.

Umzekeliso Obonisa Imfuneko Yokulinda

9, 10. (a) Ungawushwankathela njani umzekeliso kaYesu wamakhoboka awayelindele inkosi yawo ukuba ibuye emtshatweni wayo? (b) Kutheni kusenokwenzeka ukuba kwakunzima ngamakhoboka ukulindela inkosi yawo? (c) Kutheni kwakuyingenelo ukuba amakhoboka abe nomonde?

⁹ Egxininisa imfuneko yokulinda, uYesu wafanisa abafundi bakhe namakhoboka alindele ukubuya kwenkosi yawo emtshatweni wayo. Ayesazi ukuba yayiza kubuya ngobusuku obuthile—kodwa ngaliphi ixesha? Ngomlindo wokuqala ebusuku? Ngowesibini? Ngowesithathu? Ayengazi. UYesu wathi: “Ukuba [inkosi] ifika ngomlindo wesibini, kwanokuba ngowesithathu, ize iwafumane engaloo ndlela [elindile], anoyolo wona!” (Luka 12:35-38) Khawucinge nje ngolindelo awayenalo la makhoboka. Xa esiva ingxolo, naxa ebona ukuthi tshe kwesithunzi ayesiba nemincili aze athi: ‘Ngaba yinkosi yethu leyo?’

¹⁰ Kuthiwani ukuba inkosi ifika ebudeni bomlindo wesibini ebusuku, owawususela malunga nentsimbi yesithoba ukusa ezinzulwini zobusuku? Ngaba onke amakhoboka, kuquka nalawo ayevuke ngenj’ ixukuxa asebenza nzima, ayeya kuba eyilindile ukuze ayibulise, okanye ngaba amanye ayeya kuba elele? Kuthiwani ke ukuba inkosi ibuya ngomlindo wesithathu ebusuku—ixesha elisusela ezinzulwini zobusuku ukusa malunga nentsimbi yesithathu ekuseni? Ngaba amanye amakhoboka ayeya kudimazeka, ade anganeliseki ngenxa yokuba inkosi yawo ibonakala ilibazisa?a Ngalawo inkosi yawo yafika elindile kuphela ekwakuya kuthiwa anoyolo. Ngokuqinisekileyo, ayeya kusebenza kuwo amazwi akwiMizekeliso 13:12 athi: “Ukulindela okubanjezelweyo kubulala intliziyo; ungumthi wobomi umnqweno ofezekileyo.”

11. Umthandazo unokusinceda njani ukuba sihlale silindile?

¹¹ Ebudeni bexesha ekubonakala ngathi kukho ukulibazisa, yintoni eyayiza kunceda abalandeli bakaYesu ukuba bahlale belindile? Ngoxa wayesentsimini yaseGetsemane ngaphambi nje kokuba abanjwe, uYesu waxelela abapostile bakhe abathathu oku: “Hlalani nilindile yaye nithandaze ngokuqhubekayo, ukuze ningangeni ekuhendweni.” (Mateyu 26:41) Kwiminyaka kamva, uPetros, owayekho ngeso sihlandlo, wanikela isiluleko esifanayo kumaKristu awayekhonza kunye nawo. Wabhala wathi: “Isiphelo sezinto zonke sisondele. Yibani ngabaphilileyo engqondweni, ke ngoko, yaye yibani ngabaphaphileyo ngokubhekisele emithandazweni.” (1 Petros 4:7) Ngokucacileyo, umthandazo osuk’ entliziyweni ufanele ube yinxalenye yocwangciso lwethu lobuKristu. Eneneni, kufuneka simbongoze ngokuqhubekayo uYehova ukuze asincede sihlale silindile.—Roma 12:12; 1 Tesalonika 5:17.

12. Yintoni umahluko phakathi kokufunisela nokulindela?

¹² Phawula ukuba noPetros wathi: “Isiphelo sezinto zonke sisondele.” Sisondele kangakanani? Abantu abanakukwazi ukuwuchaza ngokuthe ngqo umhla nelixa. (Mateyu 24:36) Kodwa kukho umahluko phakathi kokuzixakekisa ngokufunisela, nto leyo iBhayibhile engayikhuthaziyo, nokuhlala silindele isiphelo, nto leyo ekhuthazwayo yiBhayibhile. (Thelekisa eyesi-2 kuTimoti 4:3, 4; Tito 3:9.) Yiyiphi enye indlela esinokusilindela ngayo isiphelo? Kukunikela ingqalelo kubungqina bokuba isiphelo sisondele. Makhe sihlole iinkalo ezintandathu zobungqina ezibonisa ukuba siphila kwimihla yokugqibela yeli hlabathi lingahlonel’ uThixo.

Iinkalo Ezintandathu Zobungqina Obeyisayo

13. Isiprofeto sikaPawulos esibhalwe kweyesi-2 kuTimoti isahluko 3 sikweyisela njani kwelokuba siphila ‘kwimihla yokugqibela’?

¹³ Okokuqala, siyibona ngokucacileyo inzaliseko yesiprofeto sikampostile uPawulos esiphathelele ‘imihla yokugqibela.’ UPawulos wabhala wathi: “Ngemihla yokugqibela kuya kubakho amaxesha amanqam ekunzima ukuqhubana nawo. Kuba abantu baya kuba ngabazithandayo, abathandi bemali, abazidlayo, abanekratshi, abanyelisi, abangabathobeliyo abazali, abangenambulelo, abanganyanisekanga, bengenawo umsa wemvelo, abangayifuni kwaphela imvisiswano, abajindi, abangenakuzeyisa, iindlobongela, abangenakuthanda kulunga, abangcatshi, abaneentloko ezilukhuni, abakhukhumele yinkqayiso, abathandi beziyolo kunokuba ngabathandi bakaThixo, benohlobo lozinikelo lobuthixo kodwa bewakhanyela amandla alo; yaye zikhwebule kwaba. Kodwa abantu abangendawo namabhedengu baya kuhambela phambili ukususela kokubi ukusa kokubi ngakumbi, belahlekisa yaye belahlekiswa.” (2 Timoti 3:1-5, 13) Ngaba asiyiboni inzaliseko yesi siprofeto kumhla wethu? Ngabo batyeshela izibakala kuphela abanokukukhanyela oko!b

14. Azaliseka njani namhlanje amazwi eSityhilelo 12:9 ngokuphathelele uMtyholi, yaye yintoni eza kwenzeka kuye kungekudala?

¹⁴ Okwesibini, siyayibona imiphumo yokugxothwa kukaSathana needemon zakhe ezulwini, ezalisekisa iSityhilelo 12:9. Apho, sifunda oku: “Yaphoswa phantsi inamba enkulu, inyoka yantlandlolo, leyo ibizwa ngokuba nguMtyholi noSathana, olahlekisa umhlaba omiweyo uphela; waphoswa phantsi emhlabeni, neengelosi zakhe zaphoswa phantsi kunye naye.” Oku kuye kwaphumela ekubeni kubekho uyeha omkhulu emhlabeni. Enyanisweni, kuye kwabakho uyeha omkhulu kuluntu, ingakumbi ukususela ngowe-1914. Kodwa isiprofeto esikwiSityhilelo songezelela ngokuthi xa uMtyholi elahlelwa emhlabeni, uyazi ukuba “unesihlandlo esifutshane sexesha.” (ISityhilelo 12:12) Ebudeni besi sihlandlo, uSathana ulwa imfazwe nabalandeli abathanjisiweyo bakaKristu. (ISityhilelo 12:17) Ngokuqinisekileyo siye sayibona imiphumo yokuhlasela kwakhe kweli xesha lethu.c Noko ke, kungekudala uSathana uza kuvalelwa enzonzobileni ukuze ‘angabi nakuzilahlekisa iintlanga kwakhona.’—ISityhilelo 20:1-3.

15. ISityhilelo 17:9-11 sisinika njani ubungqina bokuba siphila kwixesha lokuphela?

¹⁵ Okwesithathu, siphila kwixesha ‘lokumkani’ wesibhozo nowokugqibela okhankanywe kwisiprofeto esikwiSityhilelo 17:9-11. Apha umpostile uYohane uthetha ngookumkani abasixhenxe, abamela amagunya ehlabathi asixhenxe—iYiputa, iAsiriya, iBhabhiloni, amaMedi namaPersi, iGrisi, iRoma, negunya lehlabathi elintlu-mbini lamaNgesi namaMerika. Ukwabona ‘ukumkani wesibhozo’ “ophuma kwabasixhenxe.” Lo kumkani wesibhozo—owokugqibela kwabo babonwa nguYohane—ngoku umela iZizwe Ezimanyeneyo. UYohane uthi lo kumkani wesibhozo ‘uya entshabalalweni,’ emva koko akuphinde kukhankanywe kumkani.d

16. Izibakala zokuzaliseka komfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare zibonisa njani ukuba siphila kwimihla yokugqibela?

¹⁶ Okwesine, siphila kwisihlandlo esifanekiselwa ziinyawo kumfanekiso wephupha likaNebhukadenetsare. Umprofeti uDaniyeli walitolika eli phupha lintsonkothileyo lomfanekiso omkhulu onjengomntu. (Daniyeli 2:36-43) Iinxalenye ezine zesinyithi zalo mfanekiso zimela amagunya awahlukahlukeneyo omhlaba, ukuqala entloko (uBukhosi baseBhabhiloni) ukuya kufikelela ezantsi ezinyaweni nasezinzwaneni (oorhulumente abalawulayo namhlanje). Onke amagunya ehlabathi amelwa ngulo mfanekiso sele ebonakele. Siphila kwisihlandlo esifanekiselwa ziinyawo zalo mfanekiso. Akukho magunya wambi ekuthiwa aza kubakho.e

17. Umsebenzi wethu wokushumayela ngoBukumkani ubunikela njani ubungqina obubhekele phaya bokuba siphila kwixesha lokuphela?

¹⁷ Okwesihlanu, sibona ukuphunyezwa komsebenzi wokushumayela owenziwa emhlabeni wonke, lowo uYesu wathi wawuya kwenziwa ngaphambi nje kokufika kwesiphelo sale nkqubo. UYesu wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.” (Mateyu 24:14) Namhlanje, eso siprofeto siyazaliseka ngomlinganiselo ongenakuthelekiswa nanto. Liyinyaniso elokuba, kusekho imihlaba ekungekashunyayelwa kuyo, yaye kusenokwenzeka ukuba ngexesha elimiselwe nguYehova, kuya kuvuleka umnyango omkhulu okhokelela kumsebenzi omkhulu. (1 Korinte 16:9) Sekunjalo, iBhayibhile ayitsho ukuba uYehova uya kulinda de kunikelwe ubungqina kumntu ngamnye osemhlabeni. Kunoko, iindaba ezilungileyo zimele zishunyayelwe de uYehova aneliseke. Kwandule ke kufike isiphelo.—Thelekisa uMateyu 10:23.

18. Xa imbandezelo enkulu iqalisa yintoni ngokucacileyo eya kwenzeka ngabanye babo bathanjisiweyo, yaye kunokuqondwa njani oku?

¹⁸ Okwesithandathu, inani labafundi bakaKristu bokwenene abathanjisiweyo liyancipha, nangona ngokucacileyo abanye beya kuba besesemhlabeni ekuqaliseni kwembandezelo enkulu. Inkoliso yentsalela sele ikhulile, yaye njengoko iminyaka ihamba inani labo bangabathanjisiweyo ngokwenene liya lincipha. Ukanti, ebhekisela kwimbandezelo enkulu, uYesu wathi: “Ngaphandle kokuba loo mihla inqunyulwe ibe mifutshane, bekungayi kubakho nyama isindayo; kodwa ngenxa yabo banyuliweyo loo mihla iya kunqunyulwa ibe mifutshane.” (Mateyu 24:21, 22) Ngoko, ngokucacileyo abanye babo “banyuliweyo” bakaKristu baya kuba besesemhlabeni ekuqaliseni kwembandezelo enkulu.f

Yintoni Esilindeleyo?

19, 20. Kutheni ngoku kungxamiseke ngaphezu kunanini na ngaphambili ukuba sihlale siphaphile size silinde?

¹⁹ Lisifumbathele ntoni ikamva? Kuseza amaxesha abangel’ imincili. UPawulos walumkisa wathi “imini kaYehova iza kanye njengesela ebusuku.” Ebhekisela kubantu behlabathi ababonakala benobulumko, uthi: “Xa sukuba besithi: ‘Uxolo nonqabiseko!’ iza kwandula ke intshabalalo yequbuliso ibafikele ngephanyazo.” Ngenxa yoko, uPawulos ubongoza abalesi bakhe esithi: “Masingalali njengokuba abanye besenza, kodwa masihlale sivukile size sigcine iingqiqo zethu.” (1 Tesalonika 5:2, 3, 6) Eneneni, abo bakhangela kwimibutho yabantu ukuba izise uxolo nonqabiseko batyeshela izibakala eziyinyaniso. Abantu abanjalo bakobunzulu ubuthongo!

²⁰ Intshabalalo yale nkqubo yezinto iya kufika ngequbuliso elingummangaliso. Ngoko ke, hlalani niyilindile imini kaYehova. UThixo ngokwakhe waxelela uHabhakuki oku: ‘Ayiyi kubuya umva’! Eneneni, akuzange nanini na ngaphambili kungxamiseke kangaka ukuba sihlale silindile.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Uyakhumbula Na?

• Yiyiphi imizekelo eseZibhalweni enokusinceda sihlale silindile?

• UYesu wayibonisa njani imfuneko yokuhlala silindile?

• Ziziphi iinkalo ezintandathu zobungqina ezibonisa ukuba siphila kwimihla yokugqibela?

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 9]

UA. H. Macmillan wakhonza uYehova ngokuthembeka malunga neminyaka engamashumi amathandathu

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]

UYesu wafanisa abafundi bakhe namakhoboka ahlala elindile