Asebekhulile—Amalungu Ayigugu Obuzalwane Bethu BobuKristu
“Labo abatshalwé endlini kaJehova, . . . bayoqhakaza. Basayoqhubeka bechuma nasebumpungeni.”—IHUBO 92:13, 14.
1. Abantu abaningi bababheka kanjani asebekhulile?
UJEHOVA uyazithanda zonke izinceku zakhe ezithembekile, kuhlanganise nalezo esezikhulile. Nokho, e-United States kulinganiselwa ukuthi minyaka yonke abantu asebekhulile abangaba isigamu sesigidi bayaxhashazwa noma abanakwa. Imibiko efanayo emhlabeni wonke ibonisa ukuthi ukuxhashazwa kwasebekhulile yinkinga yembulunga yonke. Umnyombo wayo yilokho enye inhlangano ekubiza ngokuthi “isimo sengqondo esandile kubantu abaningi . . . sokuthi abantu abadala abaselona usizo, abakhiqizi futhi bathembele ngokweqile kwabanye abantu.”
2. (a) UJehova uzibheka kanjani izinceku zakhe ezithembekile esezikhulile? (b) Imaphi amazwi athinta inhliziyo esiwathola kumaHubo 92:12-15?
2 UJehova uNkulunkulu uyazazisa izinceku zakhe ezithembekile esezikhulile. Ugxila ‘kumuntu esinguye ngaphakathi’—esimweni sethu esingokomoya—kunasekulinganiselweni kwethu okungokwenyama. (2 Korinte 4:16) EZwini lakhe, iBhayibheli, sithola lesi siqinisekiso esithinta inhliziyo: “Olungileyo uyoqhakaza njengomuthi wesundu; uyokhula njengomsedari eLebhanoni. Labo abatshalwé endlini kaJehova, emagcekeni kaNkulunkulu wethu, bayoqhakaza. Basayoqhubeka bechuma nasebumpungeni, bayohlala bekhuluphele bencwaba, ukuze balandise ukuthi uJehova uqotho.” (IHubo 92:12-15) Ukuhlola la mavesi kuzoveza izici nina esenikhulile eningaba usizo oluyigugu kuzo ebuzalwaneni bobuKristu.
‘Ukuchuma Ebumpungeni’
3. (a) Kungani abalungile befaniswa nezihlahla zesundu? (b) Asebekhulile ‘bangachuma kanjani ebumpungeni’?
3 Umhubi ufanisa abalungile nezihlahla zesundu ‘ezitshalwe emagcekeni kaNkulunkulu wethu.’ ‘Baqhubeka bechuma nasebumpungeni.’ IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile lithi: “Nasebudaleni bayakuthela izithelo.” Awuvumi yini ukuthi kuyakhuthaza lokhu? Izihlahla zesundu ezinhle, ezime zathi mpó zazivamile ukubonakala emagcekeni aseMpumalanga ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli. Ngaphezu kokuhlobisa, isundu lalaziswa ngenxa yezithelo zalo eziba ziningi, njengoba ezinye izihlahla ziqhubeka zithela iminyaka engaphezu kweyikhulu.a Ngokuhlala ugxilile ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, nawe ‘ungaqhubeka uthela izithelo kuyo yonke imisebenzi emihle.’—Kolose 1:10.
4, 5. (a) Isiphi isithelo esibalulekile amaKristu okudingeka asithele? (b) Nikeza izibonelo ezisemiBhalweni zasebekhulile abathela “isithelo sezindebe.”
4 UJehova ulindele ukuba amaKristu athele “isithelo sezindebe”—amazwi okudumisa yena nezinjongo zakhe. (Hebheru 13:15) Ingabe lokhu kuyasebenza kuwe njengomuntu osekhulile? Impela.
5 IBhayibheli linezibonelo zasebekhulile abafakazela igama nezinjongo zikaJehova ngesibindi. UMose wayesevile kakade eminyakeni “engamashumi ayisikhombisa” lapho uJehova emthuma njengomprofethi nommeleli wakhe. (IHubo 90:10; Eksodusi 4:10-17) Ukukhula ngeminyaka akumvimbanga umprofethi uDaniyeli ekufakazeni ngesibindi ngobukhosi bukaJehova. UDaniyeli cishe wayeseminyakeni yawo-90 lapho uBhelishazari embiza ukuba azochaza umbhalo oyindida odongeni. (Daniyeli, isahluko 5) Kuthiwani ngomphostoli uJohane owayesegugile? Ngasekupheleni kwenkonzo yakhe ende, wayeboshwe esiqhinganeni sasePhatmose “ngenxa yokukhuluma ngoNkulunkulu nangenxa yokufakaza ngoJesu.” (IsAmbulo 1:9) Cishe baningi abanye abantu abaseBhayibhelini ongabakhumbula abathela “isithelo sezindebe” sebekhulile ngeminyaka.—1 Samuweli 8:1, 10; 12:2; 1 AmaKhosi 14:4, 5; Luka 1:7, 67-79; 2:22-32.
6. UJehova uye wawasebenzisa kanjani “amaxhegu” ekuprofetheni kulezi zinsuku zokugcina?
6 Ecaphuna umprofethi uJoweli ongumHebheru, umphostoli uPetru wathi: ‘“Ezinsukwini zokugcina,” kusho uNkulunkulu, “ngiyothululela omunye womoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama [kuhlanganise ‘namaxhegu’], iprofethe.”’ (IzEnzo 2:17, 18; Joweli 2:28) Ngokuvumelana nalokho, kulezi zinsuku zokugcina, uJehova uye wasebenzisa amalungu asekhulile esigaba sabagcotshiwe ‘nesezinye izimvu’ ukuba amemezele izinjongo zakhe. (Johane 10:16) Amanye awo asenamashumi eminyaka ethela izithelo zoMbuso.
7. Fanekisa indlela asebekhulile abaqhubeka bethela ngayo izithelo zoMbuso naphezu kokulinganiselwa okungokwenyama.
7 Cabanga ngoSonia, owaba ngummemezeli woMbuso wesikhathi esigcwele ngo-1941. Naphezu kokushukwa ukugula okungapheli isikhathi eside, wayeqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli njalo kwakhe. Wachaza: “Ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuyingxenye yokuphila kwami. Empeleni kuwukuphila kwami. Ngeke ngikuyeke.” Muva nje uSonia nodadewabo u-Olive baxoxe ngesigijimi seBhayibheli noJanet, abahlangana naye esibhedlela egulela ukufa egumbini labalindile. Unina kaJanet, ongumKatolika oshisekayo, samhlaba umxhwele kakhulu lesi sithakazelo sothando esaboniswa endodakazini yakhe kangangokuthi wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya futhi manje uthuthuka kahle kakhulu. Ingabe nawe ungawabamba amathuba afanayo okuthela izithelo zoMbuso?
8. UKalebi owayesekhulile wakubonisa kanjani ukuthembela kwakhe kuJehova, futhi amaKristu asekhulile angasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?
8 Ngokuphikelela ngesibindi emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso naphezu kokulinganiselwa kokukhula ngeminyaka, amaKristu asekhulile alandela ezinyathelweni zomIsrayeli othembekile, uKalebi, owahamba noMose ehlane iminyaka engamashumi amane. UKalebi wayeneminyaka engu-79 ubudala lapho ewela uMfula iJordani engena eZweni Lesithembiso. Ngemva kokulwa iminyaka eyisithupha ebuthweni elinqobayo lama-Israyeli, wayengase azithele ngabandayo. Kodwa kunalokho, ngesibindi wacela isabelo esinzima sokudla ‘imizi emikhulu enezivikelo eziqinile’ esifundeni sezintaba sakwaJuda, indawo eyayihlala ama-Anaki, amadoda amakhulu ngokungavamile. Ngosizo lukaJehova, ngempela uKalebi ‘wawaphuca ifa lawo njengoba nje uJehova ayethembisile.’ (Joshuwa 14:9-14; 15:13, 14) Njengoba uqhubeka uthela izithelo zoMbuso usukhulile, qiniseka ukuthi uJehova unawe, njengoba ayenoKalebi. Futhi uma uhlala uthembekile, uyokunika indawo ezweni lakhe elisha alithembisile.—Isaya 40:29-31; 2 Petru 3:13.
“Bayohlala Bekhuluphele Bencwaba”
9, 10. AmaKristu asekhulile ahlala kanjani ephilile okholweni futhi eyizingqabavu ngokomoya? (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 13.)
9 Ebhekisela ekutheleni kwezinceku zikaJehova esezikhulile, umhubi wahlabelela: “Olungileyo uyoqhakaza njengomuthi wesundu; uyokhula njengomsedari eLebhanoni. Basayoqhubeka bechuma nasebumpungeni, bayohlala bekhuluphele bencwaba.”—IHubo 92:12, 14.
10 Ungahlala kanjani uyingqabavu ngokomoya naphezu kokuhamba kweminyaka? Imfihlo yobuhle obungapheli besihlahla sesundu iwukuthi sithola amanzi njalo. Nawe ungazinakekela ngamanzi eqiniso leBhayibheli ngokutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu nangokuzihlanganisa nenhlangano yakhe. (IHubo 1:1-3; Jeremiya 17:7, 8) Ukuba kwakho umqemane ngokomoya kukwenza ube usizo oluyigugu kokholwa nabo. Bheka indlela lokhu okwenzeka ngayo kumPristi Ophakeme owayesekhulile uJehoyada.
11, 12. (a) Iyiphi indima ebalulekile uJehoyada ayifeza emlandweni wombuso wakwaJuda? (b) UJehoyada walisebenzisa kanjani ithonya lakhe ukuze asekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso?
11 UJehoyada cishe wayesevile eminyakeni eyikhulu ubudala lapho iNdlovukazi u-Athaliya eyayifuna udumo iqala ukulawula uJuda ngokubulala abazukulu bayo. Wayengenze njani uJehoyada owayesekhulile? Iminyaka eyisithupha, yena nomkakhe bafihla ethempelini indlalifa yasebukhosini okwakuwukuphela kwayo eyayisaphila, uJehowashi. Kungazelelwe, uJehoyada wabe esememezela ukuthi uJehowashi oneminyaka eyisikhombisa ubudala uyinkosi futhi wathi u-Athaliya makabulawe.—2 IziKronike 22:10-12; 23:1-3, 15, 21.
12 Njengombheki wenkosi, uJehoyada wasebenzisa ithonya lakhe ukuze asekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. “Wenza isivumelwano phakathi kwakhe nabo bonke abantu nenkosi ukuthi babeyoqhubeka bengabantu bakaJehova.” Beyalwa uJehoyada, abantu badiliza indlu kankulunkulu wamanga uBhali basusa ama-altare, imifanekiso, nompristi wayo. UJehowashi wayeqondiswa uJehoyada nalapho evuselela izinkonzo zasethempelini futhi elungisa ithempeli, umsebenzi owawudingeka kakhulu. “UJehowashi waqhubeka enza okulungile emehlweni kaJehova zonke izinsuku zakhe amyala ngazo uJehoyada umpristi.” (2 IziKronike 23:11, 16-19; 24:11-14; 2 AmaKhosi 12:2) Lapho efa eneminyaka engu-130 ubudala, uJehoyada wangcwatshwa namakhosi, okwakuyilungelo elingavamile, ngoba “wayenze okuhle kwa-Israyeli nakuNkulunkulu weqiniso nendlu yaKhe.”—2 IziKronike 24:15, 16.
13. AmaKristu asekhulile ‘angakwenza kanjani okuhle kuNkulunkulu nendlu yakhe’?
13 Mhlawumbe impilo engeyinhle noma ezinye izimo zikwenza ulinganiselwe kulokho ongakwenza ukuze usekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngisho noma kunjalo, akukho ngaphezu kwamandla akho ‘ukwenza okuhle kuNkulunkulu weqiniso nendlu yakhe.’ Ungabonisa ukushisekela indlu kaJehova engokomoya ngokuba khona futhi uhlanganyele emihlanganweni yebandla nangokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini noma nini lapho kungenzeka. Ukwamukela kwakho iseluleko seBhayibheli ngokuzimisela nokusekela kwakho ngobuqotho “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” nebandla kuyobuqinisa ubuzalwane bobuKristu. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Futhi ‘ungavuselela’ okholwa nabo “uthando nemisebenzi emihle.” (Hebheru 10:24, 25; Filemoni 8, 9) Uyoba nayisibusiso kwabanye uma wenza ngokuvumelana neseluleko somphostoli uPawulu: “Amadoda asekhulile mawabe alinganiselayo, athatha izinto ngokungathi sína, ahluzekile engqondweni, aphilile [“ayizingqabavu,” An American Translation] okholweni, othandweni, ekukhuthazeleni. Ngokufanayo abesifazane asebekhulile mabaziphathe ngenhlonipho, bangabi abanyundelayo, futhi bangabi yizigqila zewayini eliningi, babe abafundisi bokuhle.”—Thithu 2:2-4.
14. Yini ababonisi abangamaKristu abangayenza ukuze basekele ukukhulekela kweqiniso?
14 Ingabe usuneminyaka eminingi ukhonza njengomdala webandla? Iseluleko somunye umdala webandla osenesikhathi eside sithi: “Kusebenzise ngokungagodli ukuhlakanipha okuthole ngokukhula ngeminyaka. Phathisa abanye imithwalo yemfanelo, okuhlangenwe nakho kwakho kucobelele abanye abafuna ukufunda . . . Wabone amakhono adinga ukuthuthukiswa kwabanye. Wakhulise uwanakekele. Yakhela ikusasa.” (Duteronomi 3:27, 28) Isithakazelo sakho esiqotho emsebenzini woMbuso olokhu wanda siyophumela ezibusisweni eziningi kwabanye abasebuzalwaneni bethu bobuKristu.
‘Landisa Ukuthi UJehova Uqotho’
15. AmaKristu asekhulile ‘alandisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uqotho’?
15 Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu esezikhulile ziwufeza ngenjabulo umthwalo wazo wemfanelo ‘wokulandisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho.’ Uma ungumKristu osekhulile, amazwi nezenzo zakho kungabonisa abanye ukuthi ‘uJehova uyiDwala lakho, okungekho ukungalungi kuye.’ (IHubo 92:15) Isihlahla sesundu sifakaza buthule ngezimfanelo zoMdali waso ezinhle kakhulu. Kodwa wena uJehova ukunike ilungelo lokufakaza ngaye kulabo abamukela ukukhulekela kweqiniso manje. (Duteronomi 32:7; IHubo 71:17, 18; Joweli 1:2, 3) Kungani kubalulekile lokhu?
16. Isiphi isibonelo seBhayibheli esibonisa ukubaluleka ‘kokulandisa ukuthi uJehova uqotho’?
16 Lapho umholi wama-Israyeli uJoshuwa “esemdala izinsuku sezihambile,” “wabiza wonke u-Israyeli, amadoda amadala nezinhloko nabahluleli nezikhulu,” wabakhumbuza indlela uNkulunkulu ayebaphathe ngobuqotho ngayo. Wathi: “Akukho nelilodwa izwi kuwo wonke amazwi amahle uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu awakhulumile kini eliye laphutha. Agcwaliseke wonke kini.” (Joshuwa 23:1, 2, 14) Isikhathi esithile, la mazwi áqinisa abantu ekuzimiseleni kwabo ukuhlala bethembekile. Nokho, ngemva kokufa kukaJoshuwa “kwaqala ukuvela esinye isizukulwane . . . esasingamazi uJehova noma umsebenzi ayewenzelé u-Israyeli. Abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bawela ekwenzeni okubi emehlweni kaJehova nasekukhonzeni oBhali.”—AbaHluleli 2:8-11.
17. UJehova uye wasebenzelana kanjani nabantu bakhe ezikhathini zanamuhla?
17 Ubuqotho bebandla lobuKristu lanamuhla akuxhomekile ebufakazini bomlomo bezinceku zikaNkulunkulu esezikhulile. Noma kunjalo, ukholo lwethu kuJehova nasezithembisweni zakhe luyaqina lapho sizwa abanye belandisa mathupha ‘umsebenzi omkhulu’ aye wawenzela abantu bakhe kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. (AbaHluleli 2:7; 2 Petru 1:16-19) Uma usuneminyaka eminingi usenhlanganweni kaJehova, ungase ukhumbule isikhathi lapho kwakunabamemezeli boMbuso abambalwa kakhulu endaweni noma ezweni lakini noma lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuphikiswa kakhulu. Njengoba isikhathi sihamba, uye wabona uJehova esusa izithiyo ezithile ‘esheshisa’ ukwanda koMbuso. (Isaya 54:17; 60:22) Uye wabona ukucaciswa kwamaqiniso eBhayibheli nokulungiswa kancane kancane kwengxenye ebonakalayo yenhlangano kaNkulunkulu. (IzAga 4:18; Isaya 60:17) Uyazama yini ukwakha abanye ngokuxoxa nabo ngezinto oye wazibona ezihlobene nendlela uJehova aye wasebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe ngobuqotho? Yeka ithonya elihle neliqinisayo lokhu okungaba nalo ebuzalwaneni bobuKristu!
18. (a) Fanekisa indlela ‘ukulandisela abanye ukuthi uJehova uqotho’ okwaba ngayo nomphumela owaqhubeka isikhathi eside. (b) Wena ngokwakho uye wabubona kanjani ubuqotho bukaJehova?
18 Kuthiwani ngezikhathi lapho wabona khona ukukhathalela kukaJehova kothando nesiqondiso sakhe ekuphileni kwakho siqu? (IHubo 37:25; Mathewu 6:33; 1 Petru 5:7) Udade osekhulile okuthiwa uMartha wayebakhuthaza ngala mazwi abanye: “Ngisho noma sekwenzekani, ungalokothi umshiye uJehova. Uyokusekela.” Lesi seluleko siye saba nethonya elikhulu kuTolmina, esinye sezifundo zeBhayibheli zikaMartha esabhapathizwa ekuqaleni kwawo-1960. UTolmina uyakhumbula: “Lapho ngishonelwa umyeni wami, ngazizwa ngidangele kakhulu, kodwa lawo mazwi angenza ngazimisela ukungaphuthi nakowodwa umhlangano. Futhi uJehova wangiqinisa ngempela ukuze ngiqhubeke.” Naye uTolmina uye wanikeza iseluleko esifanayo kwabaningi balabo aye wabafundela iBhayibheli eminyakeni edlule. Impela, ngokunikeza isikhuthazo nangokulandisa izenzo zikaJehova eziqotho, ungenza lukhulu ekwakheni ukholo lwalabo okholwa nabo.
UJehova Uyabazisa Asebekhulile Abathembekile
19, 20. (a) UJehova ukubheka kanjani lokho izinceku zakhe esezikhulile ezikwenzayo? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
19 Izwe lanamuhla elingabongi alinasikhathi sabantu asebekhulile. (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 2) Lapho bekhunjulwa, ngokuvamile kusuke kungenxa yezinto abazifeza kudala—lokho ababeyikho, kunalokho abayikho. Ngokuphambene, iBhayibheli lithi: “UNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wenu nothando enalubonisa kulo igama lakhe, ngoba niye nabakhonza abangcwele futhi niyaqhubeka nibakhonza.” (Hebheru 6:10) Yebo, uJehova uNkulunkulu uyawukhumbula umlando wakho wemisebenzi yokwethembeka. Kodwa futhi ukwazisa nangenxa yalokho oqhubeka ukwenza enkonzweni yakhe. Yebo, ubheka asebekhulile abathembekile njengamaKristu athelayo, aphilile ngokomoya, nayizingqabavu—ubufakazi obuphilayo bamandla akhe.—Filipi 4:13.
20 Ingabe wena uwabheka ngendlela uJehova awabheka ngayo amalungu asekhulile obuzalwane bethu bobuKristu? Uma wenza kanjalo, uyoshukumiseleka ukuba uwabonise uthando. (1 Johane 3:18) Isihloko esilandelayo sizohlola izindlela ezingokoqobo zokubonisa uthando olunjalo ekunakekeleni izidingo zawo.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Isixhanti ngasinye singaba nama-date afinyelela enkulungwaneni futhi singaba nesisindo esingamakhilogremu angu-8 nangaphezulu. Omunye umlobi ulinganisela ukuthi “isihlahla [sesundu] ngasinye esithelayo siyobe sesithele ama-date angamathani amabili noma amathathu ayimbuyiselo kubaniniso phakathi nokuphila kwaso.”
Zithini Izimpendulo Zakho?
• Asebekhulile ‘bazithela kanjani izithelo’?
• Kungani ubungqabavu obungokomoya bamaKristu asekhulile buwusizo oluyigugu?
• Asebekhulile ‘bangalandisa kanjani ukuthi uJehova uqotho’?
• Kungani uJehova ezazisa izinceku zakhe esezinesikhathi eside zimkhonza?
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 13]
Indlela Abaye Bahlala Ngayo Bephilile Okholweni
Yini eye yasiza amaKristu asenesikhathi eside eseqinisweni ukuba ahlale ephilile okholweni futhi alondoloze ubungqabavu bawo obungokomoya? Nakhu okuye kwashiwo amanye:
“Ukufunda imiBhalo egxile ebuhlotsheni bethu noJehova kubaluleke kakhulu. Cishe njalo ebusuku ngisho ngekhanda iHubo 23 no-91.”—U-Olive, owabhapathizwa ngo-1930.
“Ngiye ngaqikelela ukuthi ngiba khona kuzo zonke izinkulumo zobhapathizo futhi ngilalelisise, njengokungathi kubhapathizwa mina. Ukugcina ubhapathizo lwami lucacile engqondweni kuye kwaba usizo olukhulu ekuhlaleni ngithembekile.”—UHarry, owabhapathizwa ngo-1946.
“Umthandazo wansuku zonke ubaluleke kakhulu—ukucela njalo usizo, isivikelo, nesibusiso sikaJehova, ‘simqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zethu.’” (IzAga 3:5, 6)—U-Antônio, owabhapathizwa ngo-1951.
“Ukulalela okuhlangenwe nakho kwalabo abasakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka ngemva kweminyaka eminingi kuvuselela ukuzimisela kwami ukuhlala ngiqotho futhi ngithembekile kuye.”—UJoan, owabhapathizwa ngo-1954.
“Kubalulekile ukungazicabangeli kakhulu. Lokho esinakho kungenxa yomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu. Ukuba nalo mbono kusenza sihlale sibheke endaweni efanele ukuze sithole ukondliwa okungokomoya esikudingayo ukuze sikhuthazele kuze kube sekugcineni.”—U-Arlene, owabhapathizwa ngo-1954.
[Isithombe ekhasini 11]
Asebekhulile bathela izithelo zoMbuso ezibalulekile
[Isithombe ekhasini 14]
Ubungqabavu obungokomoya balabo asebekhulile buwusizo oluyigugu