ISAHLUKO 7
Ingabe Ukuphila Ukwazisa NjengoNkulunkulu?
“Ukuwe umthombo wokuphila.”—IHUBO 36:9.
1, 2. Yisiphi isipho esivela kuNkulunkulu esiyigugu ngokukhethekile namuhla, futhi kungani?
UBABA wethu osezulwini usinikeze isipho esiyigugu—isipho sokuphila njengabantu abahlakaniphile abakwazi ukubonakalisa izimfanelo zakhe. (Genesise 1:27) Ngenxa yalesi sipho esiyigugu, siyakwazi ukuqonda izimiso zeBhayibheli. Ngokuzisebenzisa, singakhulela ekubeni abantu abavuthiwe ngokomoya abathanda uJehova ‘nabamandla abo okuqonda aye aqeqeshelwa ukuhlukanisa kokubili okulungile nokungalungile.’—Hebheru 5:14.
2 Ikhono lokuqonda izimiso zeBhayibheli libaluleke ngokukhethekile namuhla ngoba izwe seliyinkimbinkimbi kangangokuthi ayisekho imithetho engasebenza kuzo zonke izimo ezingaphakama ekuphileni. Isayensi yezokwelapha ilibonisa kahle leli phuzu, ikakhulukazi ngokuphathelene nemikhiqizo nezinqubo ezihilela igazi. Yindaba ebaluleke kakhulu lena kubo bonke abafuna ukulalela uJehova. Kepha uma siziqonda izimiso zeBhayibheli ezisebenza esimweni esithile, kufanele sikwazi ukwenza izinqumo eziphusile ezigculisa onembeza bethu nezisigcina othandweni lukaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 2:6-11) Cabangela ezinye zalezi zimiso.
UKUPHILA NEGAZI KUNGCWELE
3, 4. Yaqala nini imiBhalo ukukhuluma ngobungcwele begazi, futhi busekelwe kuziphi izimiso?
3 UJehova wakuveza okokuqala ukuhlobana okuseduze phakathi kokuphila negazi kanye nobungcwele bako ngemva nje kokuba uKhayini ebulele u-Abela. UNkulunkulu wathi kuKhayini: “Lalela! Igazi lomfowenu liyakhala kimi lisemhlabathini.” (Genesise 4:10) Emehlweni kaJehova igazi lika-Abela lalimelele ukuphila kwakhe, okwakunqanyulwe ngesihluku. Ngakho, kungashiwo ukuthi igazi lika-Abela lakhalela impindiselo kuNkulunkulu.—Hebheru 12:24.
4 Ngemva kukaZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa, uNkulunkulu wanikeza abantu imvume yokudla inyama yezilwane kodwa hhayi igazi. UNkulunkulu wathi: “Kuphela inyama enomphefumulo wayo—igazi layo—akumelwe niyidle. Futhi, ngaphandle kwalokho, igazi lemiphefumulo yenu ngiyolibiza.” (Genesise 9:4, 5) Lo myalo usebenza kuyo yonke inzalo kaNowa kuze kube sosukwini lwethu. Ugcizelela lokho uNkulunkulu ayekusho ngaphambili kuKhayini—ukuthi umphefumulo, noma ukuphila, kwazo zonke izidalwa kumelelwe yigazi. Lo myalo uveza nokuthi uJehova, uMthombo wokuphila, uyobenza balandise bonke abantu abangakuhloniphi ukuphila negazi.—IHubo 36:9.
5, 6. UMthetho KaMose wabonisa kanjani ukuthi igazi lingcwele futhi liyigugu? (Bheka nebhokisi ekhasini 78.)
5 La maqiniso amabili asemqoka abonakala naseMthethweni KaMose. ULevitikusi 17:10, 11 uthi: “Ngokuqondene nanoma yimuphi umuntu . . . odla noma yiliphi igazi, ngokuqinisekile ubuso bami buyomelana nomphefumulo odla igazi, futhi ngiyowunquma impela phakathi kwabantu bakubo. Ngoba umphefumulo wenyama usegazini, futhi mina ngiwubekele nina phezu kwe-altare ukuze nenzele imiphefumulo yenu isihlawulelo, ngoba yigazi elenza isihlawulelo ngomphefumulo okulo.”a—Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Amandla Egazi Ahlawulelayo,” ekhasini 76.
6 Uma igazi lesilwane esihlatshiwe lingasetshenziswanga e-altare, kwakumelwe lichithwe emhlabathini. Ngakho, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, ukuphila kwakuphindiselwa kuMniniko. (Duteronomi 12:16; Hezekeli 18:4) Phawula nokho ukuthi kwakungadingeki ukuba ama-Israyeli aze eqise ezama ukususa amanenjana egazi ezicutshini zenyama. Uma nje leso silwane sasihlatshwe ngendlela efanele sase sophiswa, umIsrayeli wayengasidla ngonembeza omhlophe, ngoba uMniki-kuphila wayeyobe ehlonishiwe.
7. UDavide wayibonisa kanjani inhlonipho ngobungcwele begazi?
7 UDavide, “umuntu ovumelana nenhliziyo [kaNkulunkulu],” waziqonda izimiso okusekelwe kuzo umthetho kaNkulunkulu ngegazi. (IzEnzo 13:22) Ngesinye isikhathi uDavide ome kakhulu, amadoda amathathu ayekanye naye afohla angena ekamu lesitha, akha amanzi emthonjeni, awaletha kuye. Wenzenjani uDavide? Wabuza: “Ingabe kufanele ngiphuze igazi labantu abahamba bebeke imiphefumulo yabo engozini?” KuDavide, la manzi ayefana negazi lalawa madoda ayekanye nawo. Ngakho nakuba ayomile, “wawathululela kuJehova.”—2 Samuweli 23:15-17.
8, 9. Ingabe umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila negazi washintsha ngokusungulwa kwebandla lobuKristu? Chaza.
8 Ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-2 400 uNowa enikezwe umyalo ophathelene negazi, futhi cishe ngemva kweminyaka engaba ngu-1 500 kwenziwe isivumelwano soMthetho, uJehova waphefumulela indikimba ebusayo yebandla lobuKristu lokuqala ukuba ibhale: “Umoya ongcwele nathi ngokwethu sikubone kukuhle ukunganezeli omunye umthwalo osindayo kini, ngaphandle kwalezi zinto ezidingekile, ukuba niqhubeke nideda ezintweni ezihlatshelwe izithombe nasegazini nasezintweni eziklinyiwe nasebufebeni.”—IzEnzo 15:28, 29.
9 Ngokusobala, indikimba ebusayo yokuqala yaqonda ukuthi igazi lingcwele nokuthi ukulisebenzisa ngokungafanele kubi kunjengokukhulekela izithombe noma ubufebe. AmaKristu eqiniso namuhla nawo asakubheka kanjalo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngenxa yokuthi acabanga ngezimiso zeBhayibheli, ayakwazi ukujabulisa uJehova lapho enza izinqumo ngokusetshenziswa kwegazi.
UKUSETSHENZISWA KWEGAZI KWEZOKWELAPHA
Ngingamchazela kanjani udokotela ngesinqumo sami ngokuqondene nokusebenzisa izingxenyana zegazi?
10, 11. (a) OFakazi BakaJehova bakubheka kanjani ukumpontshelwa igazi nezingxenye zegazi eziyinhloko? (b) Kukuziphi izici eziphathelene negazi amaKristu angase abe nemibono engafani kuzo?
10 OFakazi BakaJehova bayaqaphela ukuthi ‘ukudeda egazini’ kusho ukungakwamukeli ukumpontshelwa igazi nokungalithekelisi noma ukungaligcini ukuze limpontshelwe kubona nakwabanye abantu. Ngenxa yokuthi bahlonipha umthetho kaNkulunkulu, abazamukeli nezingxenye ezine eziyinhloko zegazi: amangqamuzana abomvu, amangqamuzana amhlophe, ama-platelet ne-plasma.
11 Namuhla lezi zingxenye zibuye zihlukaniswe zibe izingxenyana ezincane ezisetshenziswa ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Ingabe umKristu angazamukela lezi zingxenyana? Uzibheka ‘njengeziyigazi’ yini? Ngamunye kumelwe azenzele esakhe isinqumo kule ndaba. Kungokufanayo nangezindlela zokwelapha ezinjengenqubo yokuhlanza igazi ngomshini (hemodialysis), ukuhlanjululwa kwegazi (hemodilution), nokuhlengwa kwamangqamuzana (cell salvage) okuhilela igazi lakho, uma nje lingazange ligcinwe.—Bheka iSithasiselo, amakhasi 215-18.
12. Kufanele sizibheke futhi sizisingathe kanjani izindaba zikanembeza?
12 Ingabe izinqumo ezishiyelwa kuwe ukuba uzenzele azibalulekile kangako kuJehova? Cha, ngoba unesithakazelo esibukhali kwesikucabangayo nasezisuseni zethu. (IzAga 17:3; 21:2; 24:12) Ngakho ngemva kokuthandaza nokucwaninga ngomkhiqizo othile noma inqubo ethile yezokwelapha, kufanele silalele onembeza bethu abaqeqeshwe yiBhayibheli. (Roma 14:2, 22, 23) Kuyavunywa, abanye akufanele basiphoqe ukuba senze okushiwo onembeza babo, kanti nathi akufanele sibuze, “Ubuyokwenzenjani ukube ubusesimweni engikuso?” Ezindabeni ezinjalo, umKristu ngamunye kufanele ‘athwale owakhe umthwalo.’b—Galathiya 6:5; Roma 14:12; bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ingabe Ngibheka Igazi Njengelingcwele?” ekhasini 81.
IMITHETHO KAJEHOVA IBONISA UTHANDO LWAKHE NJENGOBABA
13. Imithetho nezimiso zikaJehova zembulani ngaye? Fanekisa.
13 Imithetho nezimiso eziseBhayibhelini zembula ukuthi uJehova unguMniki-mthetho ohlakaniphile noBaba onothando oyikhathalela ngokujulile inhlalakahle yezingane zakhe. (IHubo 19:7-11) Nakuba umyalo othi ‘masidede egazini’ unganikezwanga njengomthetho wezempilo, kodwa uyasivikela ezinkingeni ezihlobene nokumpontshelwa igazi. (IzEnzo 15:20) Eqinisweni, abaningi emkhakheni wezokwelapha bathi ukuhlinza ngaphandle kwegazi “kuyindinganiso enhle kakhulu” yezokwelapha zesimanje. KumaKristu eqiniso, intuthuko enjalo imane nje igcizelela ukuhlakanipha kukaJehova okungenakulinganiswa nothando lwakhe njengobaba.—Isaya 55:9; Johane 14:21, 23.
14, 15. (a) Uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngabantu bakhe lwabonakala kumiphi imithetho? (b) Ungazisebenzisa kanjani izimiso okusekelwe kuzo le mithetho yokuphepha?
14 Ukukhathalela kukaNkulunkulu inhlalakahle yabantu bakhe kwa-Israyeli wasendulo kwabonakala kweminingi imithetho yakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wayefuna ukuba izindlu zama-Israyeli zibe nothango lokuvikela oluzungeze uphahla ukuze kugwemeke izingozi, kwazise ziningi izinto ezazenziwa ophahleni. (Duteronomi 22:8; 1 Samuweli 9:25, 26; Nehemiya 8:16; IzEnzo 10:9) UNkulunkulu waphinde wayala ukuba izinkunzi eziyingozi ziqashelwe. (Eksodusi 21:28, 29) Ukungazinaki lezi zimfuneko kwakubonisa ukungayihloniphi okukhulu inhlalakahle yabanye futhi kwakungaholela ecaleni legazi.
15 Ungazisebenzisa kanjani izimiso okusekelwe kuzo le mithetho? Kungani ungacabangi ngemoto yakho, indlela oshayela ngayo, izilwane ozifuyile, umuzi wakho, indawo osebenzela kuyo nendlela okhetha ukuzijabulisa ngayo? Emazweni athile, izingozi ziyimbangela ehamba phambili yokufa kwentsha, ngokuvamile ngenxa yokuthi izifaka engozini ngokungadingekile. Nokho, intsha efuna ukuhlala othandweni lukaNkulunkulu iyakwazisa ukuphila futhi ayiyifuni injabulo ezintweni eziyingozi. Ayibenzi ubuwula bokucabanga ukuthi ubusha busho ukuthi ngeke yalimala. Kunalokho, ijabulela ubusha bayo ngokugwema izinhlekelele ezingadingekile.—UmShumayeli 11:9, 10.
16. Yisiphi isimiso seBhayibheli esisebenza endabeni yokukhipha isisu? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)
16 Ngisho nokuphila kwengane engakazalwa kuyigugu kuNkulunkulu. Kwa-Israyeli wasendulo, uma umuntu elimaza owesifazane okhulelwe bese lowo wesifazane efa noma kufe ingane, uNkulunkulu wayebheka lowo muntu onecala njengombulali, futhi kwakufanele ‘akhokhe umphefumulo ngomphefumulo.’c (Eksodusi 21:22, 23) Cabanga-ke indlela okumelwe ukuba uJehova uzizwa ngayo lapho ebona izigidi zabantu zikhipha izisu ngamabomu unyaka nonyaka, abaningi bezikhipha ngoba bengafuni zibe isithikamezo nangenxa yokuxega kwesimilo.
17. Ungamduduza kanjani umuntu owakhipha isisu engakazazi izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu?
17 Kuthiwani-ke kodwa ngowesifazane okhiphe isisu engakalazi iqiniso leBhayibheli? Ingabe isihe sikaNkulunkulu asimfanele? Lutho neze! Eqinisweni, umuntu ophenduke ngeqiniso angathembela entethelelweni kaJehova esekelwe egazini likaJesu elachitheka. (IHubo 103:8-14; Efesu 1:7) Ngempela, uKristu ngokwakhe wathi: “Ngizelé ukubizela izoni ekuphendukeni, hhayi abalungileyo.”—Luka 5:32.
GWEMA UKUCABANGA OKULIMAZAYO!
18. IBhayibheli lithi iyini imbangela eyinhloko yokuphalala kwegazi?
18 Ngaphandle kokumane singabalimazi abanye, uJehova ufuna sikhiphe ezinhliziyweni zethu imbangela yokuphalala kwegazi eliningi—inzondo. “Wonke umuntu ozonda umfowabo ungumbulali,” kubhala umphostoli uJohane. (1 Johane 3:15) Akukhona nje ukuthi umuntu onjalo umane akamthandi umfowabo kodwa umfisela ukufa. Ubutha bakhe bungase bubonakale ngokunyundela okubi kakhulu noma ngokuqambela umuntu amanga ngento engamlethela isahlulelo saphezulu. (Levitikusi 19:16; Duteronomi 19:18-21; Mathewu 5:22) Yeka indlela okubaluleke ngayo-ke ukuba sikhiphe ezinhliziyweni zethu noma iyiphi inzondo engase yakhele khona!—Jakobe 1:14, 15; 4:1-3.
19. Umuntu obuswa izimiso zeBhayibheli uyibheka kanjani imibhalo enjengeHubo 11:5 neyabaseFilipi 4:8, 9?
19 Labo abazisa ukuphila njengoJehova nabafuna ukuzigcina othandweni lwakhe bagwema nazo zonke izinhlobo zobudlova. IHubo 11:5 lithi: “Ngokuqinisekile umphefumulo [kaJehova] uyamzonda umuntu othanda ubudlova.” Leli vesi lisitshela okungaphezu kobuntu bukaNkulunkulu; liyisimiso okumelwe siphile ngaso. Senza abathandi bakaNkulunkulu bagweme noma yikuphi ukuzijabulisa okungase kukhuthaze ubudlova. Ngokufanayo, inkulumo ethi uJehova ‘unguNkulunkulu wokuthula’ ishukumisa izinceku zakhe ukuba zigcwalise izingqondo nezinhliziyo zazo ngezinto ezithandekayo, ezinhle nezifanelekela ukudunyiswa, ezenza kube nokuthula.—Filipi 4:8, 9.
GWEMA IZINHLANGANO EZINECALA LEGAZI
20-22. Ikuphi ukuma amaKristu akuthathayo ngokuqondene nezwe, futhi ngani?
20 Lonke izwe likaSathane linecala legazi phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Isimiso salo sezombangazwe, esivezwe emiBhalweni njengezilo ezinonya, siye sabulala izigidi ezingenakubalwa, kuhlanganise nezinceku zikaJehova eziningi. (Daniyeli 8:3, 4, 20-22; IsAmbulo 13:1, 2, 7, 8) Belekelelana nale mibuso efana nezilo, abamabhizinisi nososayensi baye bakha izikhali ezibulala uyaca, bezenzela inzuzo enkulu. Yeka indlela okuyiqiniso ngayo ukuthi “lonke izwe lisemandleni omubi”!—1 Johane 5:19.
21 Ngenxa yokuthi abalandeli bakaJesu ‘abayona ingxenye yezwe’ futhi abathathi hlangothi nhlobo kwezombangazwe nasezimpini, bagwema ukuba necala legazi bona ngokwabo nokuba necala legazi lomphakathi.d (Johane 15:19; 17:16) Futhi belingisa uKristu, abavuki indlobane lapho abanye bebashushisa. Kunalokho, babonisa uthando ezitheni zabo, baze bazithandazele.—Mathewu 5:44; Roma 12:17-21.
22 Ngaphezu kwakho konke, amaKristu eqiniso agwema ukuzihlanganisa ‘neBhabhiloni Elikhulu,’ umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga nonecala legazi kunayo yonke. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Kwatholakala kulo igazi labaprofethi nelabangcwele nelabo bonke abaye babulawa emhlabeni.” Ngakho siyaxwayiswa: “Phumani kulo, bantu bami.”—IsAmbulo 17:6; 18:2, 4, 24.
23. Kusho ukuthini ukuphuma eBhabhiloni Elikhulu?
23 Ukushiya iBhabhiloni Elikhulu kuhilela okungaphezu kokwesula igama lakho ezinhlwini zamalungu. Kuhlanganisa nokuzonda imikhuba emibi evunwa inkolo yamanga noma eyikhuthaza ingcaca—imikhuba enjengokuziphatha okubi, ukungena kwezombusazwe nokuphishekela ingcebo ngobugovu. (IHubo 97:10; IsAmbulo 18:7, 9, 11-17) Yeka indlela le mikhuba evame ngayo ukubangela ukuchitheka kwegazi!
24, 25. Kungasiphi isisekelo uNkulunkulu abonisa ngaso isihe kumuntu onecala legazi ophendukayo, futhi lokhu kwafanekiselwa kanjani ezikhathini zeBhayibheli?
24 Ngaphambi kokuba samukele ukukhulekela kweqiniso, ngamunye wethu wake wasisekela ngandlela-thile isimiso sikaSathane ngaleyo ndlela waba necala legazi. Kepha ngenxa yokuthi sazishintsha izindlela zethu sahlakulela ukholo emhlatshelweni wesihlengo kaKristu, futhi sanikezela ukuphila kwethu kuNkulunkulu, sathola isihe sikaNkulunkulu nesivikelo esingokomoya. (IzEnzo 3:19) Leso sivikelo safanekiselwa imizi yesiphephelo ezikhathini zeBhayibheli.—Numeri 35:11-15; Duteronomi 21:1-9.
25 Lalisebenza kanjani lelo lungiselelo? Uma umIsrayeli ebangele ukufa komunye ngengozi, kwakufanele abalekele komunye yale mizi yesiphephelo. Ngemva kokuba abahluleli abafanelekayo sebenze isinqumo ngodaba, umbulali ongahlosile kwakudingeka ahlale emzini wesiphephelo kuze kufe umpristi omkhulu. Ngemva kwalokho wayekhululekile ukuba ahlale nomaphi. Yeka isibonelo esihle sesihe sikaNkulunkulu nesokwazisa ukuphila komuntu ngezinga elikhulu! Okufana naleyo mizi yesiphephelo yasendulo namuhla, yilungiselelo likaNkulunkulu elisekelwe emhlatshelweni wesihlengo sikaKristu, lokusivikela ekufeni ngenxa yokuwephula singahlosile umyalo kaNkulunkulu ophathelene nokuphila negazi. Ingabe uyalazisa wena lelo lungiselelo? Ungabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyalazisa? Enye indlela iwukumema abanye ukuba babe kanye nawe kulo muzi wesiphephelo ongokomfanekiso, ikakhulukazi ngenxa ‘yosizi olukhulu’ olusondela ngokushesha.—Mathewu 24:21; 2 Korinte 6:1, 2.
YAZISA UKUPHILA NGOKUSHUMAYELA ISIGIJIMI SOMBUSO
26-28. Isimo sethu namuhla sifana kanjani nesomprofethi uHezekeli, futhi singazigcina kanjani othandweni lukaNkulunkulu?
26 Isimo sabantu bakaNkulunkulu namuhla sisikhumbuza umprofethi wasendulo uHezekeli, owathunywa uJehova ukuba abe umlindi ongokomoya wendlu ka-Israyeli. “Kumelwe uzwe izwi [lami] ubanikeze isixwayiso esivela kimi,” kusho uNkulunkulu. Ukube uHezekeli wayengakudebeselela lokhu kuthunywa, wayeyoba necala legazi ngalabo ababeyobulawa lapho iJerusalema lenziwa ukuba lilandise. (Hezekeli 33:7-9) Kodwa uHezekeli walalela futhi akazange abe necala legazi.
27 Namuhla, sibhekene nokuphela kwalo lonke izwe likaSathane. Ngenxa yalokho, oFakazi BakaJehova bakubheka njengesibopho nanjengelungelo ukumemezela ‘usuku lwempindiselo’ kaNkulunkulu kanye nesigijimi soMbuso. (Isaya 61:2; Mathewu 24:14) Ingabe wena uhlanganyela ngokugcwele kulo msebenzi obalulekile? Umphostoli uPawulu wayekubheka ngokungathí sina ukuthunywa kwakhe kokuba ashumayele. Ngenxa yalokho, wayengathi: “Ngimsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu, ngoba angigodlanga ukunitshela yonke injongo kaNkulunkulu.” (IzEnzo 20:26, 27) Yeka isibonelo esihle sokusilingisa!
28 Yiqiniso, ukuze sizigcine emfudumalweni yothando lukaJehova olunjengolukababa kumelwe senze okungaphezu kokubheka ukuphila negazi ngendlela uJehova akubheka ngayo. Kudingeka futhi sihlale sihlanzekile, noma singcwele, emehlweni akhe, njengoba sizobona esahlukweni esilandelayo.
a Ngokuqondene namazwi kaNkulunkulu athi “umphefumulo wenyama usegazini,” iphephabhuku i-Scientific American lithi: “Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi igazi lifanekisela ukuphila, la mazwi ayiqiniso nangomqondo ongokoqobo: uhlobo ngalunye lwengqamuzana yegazi luyadingeka ukuze kube nokuphila.”
b Bheka i-Phaphama! ka-August 2006, amakhasi 3-12, enyatheliswa oFakazi BakaJehova.
c Abalobi besichazamazwi seBhayibheli bathi indlela okubekwe ngayo umbhalo wesiHebheru “wenza kungabi nokwenzeka ukuba la mazwi abhekisele ekulimaleni kowesifazane yedwa.” Phawula nokuthi iBhayibheli alisho lutho ngokuthi isahlulelo sikaJehova siyosebenza uma umbungu ungakanani ubudala.
e Bheka iSithasiselo ekhasini 215-16, ukuze uthole ukwaziswa okwengeziwe.