Izinto Okumelwe Sizibalekele
“Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onixwayisé ukuba nibalekele ulaka oluzayo?”—MATH. 3:7.
1. Iziphi ezinye zezibonelo eziseBhayibhelini zokubaleka?
YINI efika engqondweni yakho lapho uzwa igama elithi ‘baleka’? Abanye bangase bacabange ngoJosefa, insizwa enhle, owabaleka lapho umkaPotifari emnxenxa ukuba alale naye. (Gen. 39:7-12) Abanye bangase bacabange ngamaKristu abaleka eJerusalema ngo-66 C.E., elalela isixwayiso sikaJesu: “Lapho nibona iJerusalema lihaqwe amabutho akanisile, khona-ke . . . labo abaseJudiya mababalekele ezintabeni, abaphakathi kwalo baphume.”—Luka 21:20, 21.
2, 3. (a) UJohane uMbhapathizi wayeqondeni ngempela lapho egxeka abaholi benkolo? (b) UJesu wasigcizelela kanjani isixwayiso esakhishwa uJohane?
2 Izibonelo okukhulunywe ngazo ngenhla zihilela ukubaleka ngokoqobo. Namuhla, kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sokuba amaKristu eqiniso emhlabeni wonke abaleke ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso. UJohane uMbhapathizi wasebenzisa igama elithi ‘baleka’ ngalowo mqondo. Phakathi kwalabo ababeza ukuzombona kwakunabaholi benkolo bamaJuda ababezibona belungile, bengasiboni isidingo sokuphenduka. Babebabukela phansi abantu abavamile ababebhapathizwa njengesibonakaliso sokuphenduka. UJohane wabadalula ngesibindi labo baholi ababengabazenzisi: “Nzalo yezinyoka, ngubani onixwayisé ukuba nibalekele ulaka oluzayo? Ngakho-ke thelani izithelo ezifanela ukuphenduka.”—Math. 3:7, 8.
3 UJohane wayengakhulumi ngokubaleka okungokoqobo. Wayexwayisa ngesahlulelo esizayo, usuku lolaka; futhi wayexwayisa abaholi benkolo ngokuthi uma befuna ukusinda ngalolo suku, kwakuyodingeka baveze izithelo ezibonisa ukuphenduka. Kamuva, uJesu wabalahla ngesibindi abaholi benkolo—ukuthambekela kwabo ekumbulaleni kwakubonisa ukuthi uyise wabo wangempela kwakunguDeveli. (Joh. 8:44) Egcizelela isixwayiso esakhishwa uJohane ngaphambili, uJesu wababiza ngokuthi ‘bayinzalo yezinyoka’ futhi wababuza: “Nizosibalekela kanjani isahlulelo saseGehena na?” (Math. 23:33) Wayesho ukuthini uJesu ngelithi ‘iGehena’?
4. UJesu wayesho ukuthini ngelithi ‘iGehena’?
4 IGehena laliyisigodi esasingaphandle kwezindonga zaseJerusalema lapho kwakushiswa khona udoti nezidumbu zezilwane. UJesu wasebenzisa iGehena njengophawu lokufa phakade. (Bheka ikhasi 27.) Ukubabuza kwakhe ukuthi babeyolibalekela kanjani iGehena kwakubonisa ukuthi njengeqembu, labo baholi benkolo babefanelwe ukubhujiswa okuphakade.—Math. 5:22, 29.
5. Umlando ubonisa ukuthi zagcwaliseka kanjani izixwayiso zikaJohane noJesu?
5 Abaholi bamaJuda bandisa izono zabo ngokushushisa uJesu nabalandeli bakhe. Kamuva, njengoba uJohane noJesu babexwayisile, lwafika usuku lolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngaleso sikhathi, “ulaka oluzayo” lwalugxile endaweni eyodwa, iJerusalema neJudiya, ngakho abantu babengabaleka ngokoqobo. Lolo laka lwabonakaliswa lapho iJerusalema nethempeli lalo kubhujiswa amabutho amaRoma ngo-70 C.E. “Usizi” olwaba khona lwaba lukhulu ngaphezu kwanoma iluphi iJerusalema elalike labhekana nalo. Abaningi babulawa noma bathunjwa. Lokhu kwakuyibika lembubhiso enkulu nakakhulu elindele abaningi abathi bangamaKristu nabezinye izinkolo.—Math. 24:21.
Ulaka Oluzayo Okufanele Silubalekele
6. Yini eyaqala ukuvela ebandleni lamaKristu okuqala?
6 Abanye phakathi kwamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala baba yizihlubuki futhi baba nabalandeli. (IzE. 20:29, 30) Ngesikhathi abaphostoli bakaJesu besaphila, ‘babenjengento evimbela’ lokho kuhlubuka, kodwa ngemva kokufa kwabo kwavela amahlelo amaningi obuKristu bamanga. Namuhla, kunezinkolo eziningi eziphikisanayo kweLobukholwa. IBhayibheli labikezela ngokuvela kwabefundisi beLobukholwa, lababiza njengeqembu ngokuthi “umuntu ongenamthetho, indodana yokubhujiswa . . . iNkosi uJesu eyomqeda . . . futhi imenze ize ngokubonakaliswa kokuba khona kwayo.”—2 Thes. 2:3, 6-8.
7. Kungani inkulumo ethi “umuntu ongenamthetho” ibafanela abefundisi beLobukholwa?
7 Abefundisi beLobukholwa abanamthetho ngoba baye badukisa izigidi ngokukhuthaza izimfundiso, amaholidi nokuziphatha okungqubuzana neBhayibheli. Njengabaholi benkolo uJesu abalahla, abakhulekeli banamuhla abayingxenye ‘yendodana yokubhujiswa’ babhekene nokubhujiswa okungenathemba lovuko. (2 Thes. 1:6-9) Nokho, yini ezokwenzeka kubantu abaye badukiswa abefundisi beLobukholwa nabezinye izinkolo zamanga? Ukuze siphendule lo mbuzo, masicabangele izenzakalo ezenzeka ngemva kokubhujiswa kokuqala kweJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E.
“Balekani Niphume Phakathi KweBhabhiloni”
8, 9. (a) Isiphi isigijimi esiyisiprofetho uJeremiya ayesiphathele amaJuda ayethunjiwe eBhabhiloni? (b) Ngemva kokuba amaMede namaPheresiya enqobe iBhabhiloni, abantu babengabaleka ngamuphi umqondo?
8 Umprofethi uJeremiya wabikezela ngokubhujiswa kweJerusalema okwenzeka ngo-607 B.C.E. Wathi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babeyothunjwa kodwa babeyobuyiselwa ezweni labo ngemva “kweminyaka engamashumi ayisikhombisa.” (Jer. 29:4, 10) UJeremiya wayewaphathele isigijimi esibalulekile amaJuda ayethunjelwe eBhabhiloni; kwakumelwe ahlale engangcolisiwe ukukhulekela kwamanga kwaseBhabhiloni. Ngaleyo ndlela, lapho kufika isikhathi esimisiwe, ayeyobe ekulungele ukubuyela eJerusalema eyovuselela ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile. Lokhu kwenzeka ngemva nje kokuba amaMede namaPheresiya enqobe iBhabhiloni ngo-539 B.C.E. Inkosi yasePheresiya uKoresi II yakhipha umyalo wokuba amaJuda abuyele eJerusalema ayokwakha kabusha ithempeli likaJehova.—Ezra 1:1-4.
9 Izinkulungwane zamaJuda zalisebenzisa leli thuba futhi zagoduka. (Ezra 2:64-67) Ngokwenza kanjalo, zagcwalisa umyalo kaJeremiya oyisiprofetho owawuhilela ukubaleka ngomqondo wokusuka endaweni ethile ziye kwenye. (Funda uJeremiya 51:6, 45, 50.) Izimo azizange ziwavumele wonke amaJuda ukuba athathe lolo hambo olude lokubuyela eJerusalema nakwaJuda. Lawo asala eBhabhiloni, njengomprofethi uDaniyeli owayesekhulile, ayengathola isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu uma nje ayekusekela ngenhliziyo yonke ukukhulekela okuhlanzekile okwakuseJerusalema futhi ehlala ezihlukanisile nokukhulekela kwamanga kwaseBhabhiloni.
10. “IBhabhiloni Elikhulu” linecala laziphi ‘izinengiso’?
10 Namuhla, izinkulungwane zezigidi zabantu zisezinkolweni zamanga ezihlukahlukene ezaqala emuva eBhabhiloni lasendulo. (Gen. 11:6-9) Zizonke zibizwa ngokuthi “iBhabhiloni Elikhulu, unina wezifebe nowezinengiso zomhlaba.” (IsAm. 17:5) Inkolo yamanga inomlando omude wokusekela ababusi bezombangazwe baleli zwe. Ezinye ‘zezinengiso’ enecala lazo zihlanganisa izimpi eziningi eziye zabangela ukuba amakhulu ezigidi zabantu ‘abulawe emhlabeni.’ (IsAm. 18:24) Ezinye ‘izinengiso’ zihlanganisa ukunukubezwa kwezingane ngokobulili nezinye izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi kobulili ezenziwa abefundisi futhi zivunwe izikhulu zamasonto. Kuyamangalisa yini ukuthi maduze uJehova uNkulunkulu uzobhubhisa inkolo yamanga emhlabeni?—IsAm. 18:8.
11. AmaKristu eqiniso anasiphi isibopho uma nje iBhabhiloni Elikhulu lingakabhujiswa?
11 AmaKristu eqiniso akwaziyo lokhu anesibopho sokuxwayisa amalungu eBhabhiloni Elikhulu. Enye indlela akwenza ngayo lokhu iwukusakaza amaBhayibheli nezincwadi ezisekelwe kulo ezinyatheliswa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” uJesu ayimisa ukuba ilungiselele “ukudla” okungokomoya “ngesikhathi esifanele.” (Math. 24:45) Lapho abantu bebonisa isithakazelo esigijimini seBhayibheli, kwenziwa amalungiselelo okubasiza ngesifundo seBhayibheli. Siyethemba ukuthi bayosibona isidingo ‘sokubaleka baphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni’ kungakephuzi kakhulu.—IsAm. 18:4.
Balekelani Ukukhonza Izithombe
12. UNkulunkulu ukubheka kanjani ukukhulekela imifanekiso nezithombe?
12 Omunye umkhuba oyisinengiso ovamile eBhabhiloni Elikhulu ukukhulekela imifanekiso nezithombe. UNkulunkulu uzibiza ‘ngezinengiso nangezithombe ezinjengendle.’ (Dut. 29:17) Bonke abafuna ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu kumelwe bagweme ukukhonza izithombe ngokuvumelana nala mazwi kaNkulunkulu: “NginguJehova. Yilelo igama lami; futhi angisoze nganika muntu omunye inkazimulo yami, noma imifanekiso ebaziwe udumo lwami.”—Isaya 42:8.
13. Iziphi izinhlobo ezicashile zokukhonza izithombe okudingeka sizibalekele?
13 IZwi likaNkulunkulu lidalula nezinhlobo ezicashile zokukhonza izithombe. Ngokwesibonelo, libiza ukuhaha ngokuthi “ukukhonza izithombe.” (Kol. 3:5) Ukuhaha kusho ukufisa into eyenqatshelwe, njengempahla yomunye umuntu. (Eks. 20:17) Ingelosi eyaba uSathane uDeveli yaba nesifiso sokuhaha ifuna ukufana noPhezukonke nokukhulekelwa. (Luka 4:5-7) Lokhu kwayenza yavukela uJehova futhi yayenga u-Eva ukuba ahahele into uNkulunkulu ayeyinqabele. Ngandlela-thile, u-Adamu naye waba necala lokukhonza izithombe ngoba wavumela isifiso sobugovu sokulondoloza ubungane nomkakhe sibe esibaluleke ngaphezu kokulalela uYise wasezulwini onothando. Ngokungafani nabo, bonke abafuna ukubalekela usuku lolaka lukaNkulunkulu kumelwe bazinikele kuye yedwa futhi bamelane nanoma ikuphi ukuhaha okunjalo.
“Balekelani Ubufebe”
14-16. (a) Kungani uJosefa eyisibonelo esihle sokuziphatha? (b) Yini okufanele siyenze uma sifikelwa isifiso sobulili esingcolile? (c) Singaphumelela kanjani ekubalekeleni ubufebe?
14 Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 6:18. UJosefa wabaleka ngokoqobo lapho umkaPotifari ezama ukumnxenxa. Yeka ukuthi wawabekela isibonelo esihle kanjani amaKristu ashadile nangashadile! Kusobala ukuthi unembeza kaJosefa wawulolongwe izenzakalo zangaphambili ezazembula umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokuziphatha. Uma sifuna ukulalela umyalo ‘wokubalekela ubufebe’ siyogwema izinto ezingase zivuse isifiso sobulili ngothile esingashadile naye. Siyatshelwa: “Bulalani amalungu emizimba yenu . . . ngokuqondene nobufebe, ukungcola, isifiso sobulili, isifiso esilimazayo, nokuhaha, okuwukukhonza izithombe. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyeza ngenxa yalezo zinto.”—Kol. 3:5, 6.
15 Phawula ukuthi “ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyeza.” Abaningi ezweni baba nezifiso zobulili ezingafanele futhi banqotshwe yizo. Yingakho kudingeka ukuba thina njengamaKristu sithandazele usizo lukaNkulunkulu nomoya ongcwele ukuze singabuswa izifiso zobulili ezingcolile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukutadisha iBhayibheli, ukuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu nokuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nomakhelwane bethu kuyosisiza ukuba ‘siqhubeke sihamba ngomoya.’ Ngokwenza kanjalo, ‘ngeke neze sifeze isifiso senyama.’—Gal. 5:16.
16 Ngokuqinisekile, siyobe ‘singahambi ngomoya’ uma sibuka izithombe ezingcolile zobulili. Ngokufanayo, wonke amaKristu kudingeka axwaye ukufunda, ukubuka, noma ukulalela izinto ezivusa inkanuko yobulili. Ngendlela efanayo, akufanele ‘abantu bakaNkulunkulu abangcwele’ bajatshuliswe ukwenza amahlaya ngezinto ezinjalo noma baxoxe ngazo. (Efe. 5:3, 4) Ngokugwema lokhu, sibonisa uBaba wethu onothando ukuthi sikufuna ngempela ukusinda olakeni lwakhe oluzayo siphile ezweni elisha lokulunga.
Balekelani “Uthando Lwemali”
17, 18. Kungani kumelwe sibalekele “uthando lwemali”?
17 Encwadini yakhe yokuqala ayibhalela uThimothewu, uPawulu wagcizelela izimiso okufanele zisebenze kumaKristu ayizigqila, amanye awo okungenzeka ayelindele ukuzuza ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo ngoba esebenzela amaKristu. Kungenzeka ukuthi amanye azama ukusebenzisa okungcwele ngenxa yenzuzo yobugovu. UPawulu waxwayisa ‘ngokucabanga ukuthi ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuyindlela yokuthola inzuzo [yezinto ezibonakalayo].’ Kungenzeka umsuka wale nkinga ‘kwakuwuthando lwemali,’ olungaba nethonya elibi kunoma ubani, ompofu noma ocebile.—1 Thim. 6:1, 2, 5, 9, 10.
18 Zikhona yini izibonelo eziseBhayibhelini ongazicabanga zabantu ababuhlobo babo noNkulunkulu balinyazwa “uthando lwemali” noma lwezinto ezingabalulekile ongazithenga ngemali? (Josh. 7:11, 21; 2 AmaKh. 5:20, 25-27) UPawulu wanxusa uThimothewu: “Wena, muntu kaNkulunkulu, zibalekele lezi zinto. Kodwa phishekela ukulunga, ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, ukholo, uthando, ukukhuthazela, ubumnene bomoya.” (1 Thim. 6:11) Kubalulekile ukuba bonke abafuna ukusinda osukwini lolaka oluzayo basilalele lesi seluleko.
“Balekela Izifiso Zobusha”
19. Yonke intsha idingani?
19 Funda izAga 22:15. Ubuwula obusenhliziyweni yosemusha bungamdukisa kalula. Isiyalo esisekelwe eBhayibhelini singasiza ekuvimbeleni lokhu. Intsha eningi engamaKristu enabazali abangebona oFakazi ifuna izimiso eziseBhayibhelini futhi izisebenzise. Enye izuza eselulekweni esihlakaniphile sabantu abavuthiwe ngokomoya ebandleni. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iseluleko esisekelwe eBhayibhelini sinikezwa ubani, ukusilalela kungaholela enjabulweni manje nasesikhathini esizayo.—Heb. 12:8-11.
20. Intsha ingaluthola kanjani usizo lokubalekela izifiso ezingalungile?
20 Funda eyesi-2 Thimothewu 2:20-22. Intsha eningi engasitholi isiyalo esinenzuzo iye yaba izisulu zezindlela zobuwula, njengomoya wokuncintisana, ukuhaha, ubufebe, ukuthanda imali nokuphishekela injabulo. Lezi zinto zibonisa “izifiso zobusha” iBhayibheli elisinxusa ukuba sizibalekele. Ukuzibalekela kudinga ukuba umKristu osemusha aqaphe amathonya ayingozi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi aqhamukaphi. Siwusizo kakhulu iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sokuba intsha iphishekele izimfanelo ezimjabulisayo ‘ikanye nalabo ababiza iNkosi ngenhliziyo ehlanzekile.’
21. Isiphi isithembiso esimangalisayo esenziwa uJesu Kristu ngokuqondene nabalandeli bakhe abanjengezimvu?
21 Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibasha noma sibadala, ukungabalaleli abantu abazama ukusidukisa kubonisa ukuthi sifuna ukubalwa phakathi kwabalandeli bakaJesu abanjengezimvu ‘ababalekela izwi lezihambi.’ (Joh. 10:5) Nokho, ukuze sisinde osukwini lolaka lukaNkulunkulu, kudingeka senze okungaphezu kokumane sibalekele izinto ezilimazayo. Kumelwe futhi siphishekele izimfanelo ezinhle. Isihloko esilandelayo sizoxoxa ngezingu-7 zazo. Sinesizathu esihle sokuluhlola ngokwengeziwe lolu daba, ngoba uJesu wenza lesi sithembiso esimangalisayo: “[Izimvu zami] ngizinika ukuphila okuphakade, futhi azisoze zabhubha nanini, futhi akekho umuntu oyozihlwitha esandleni sami.”—Joh. 10:28.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Isiphi isixwayiso uJesu asinika abaholi benkolo?
• Isiphi isimo esiyingozi abantu abaningi ababhekene naso namuhla?
• Iziphi izindlela ezicashile zokukhonza izithombe okumelwe sizibalekele?
[Izithombe ekhasini 8, 9]
Yini efika engqondweni yakho lapho uzwa igama elithi ‘baleka’?