Bonke Bamele Baziphendulele KuThixo
“Ngamnye wethu uya kunikela ingxelo [kuphendula] kuThixo.”—ROMA 14:12.
1. Inkululeko ka-Adam noEva yayinayiphi imiqathango?
UYEHOVA UTHIXO wabadala abazali bethu bokuqala, uAdam noEva banenkululeko yokuzikhethela. Nangona babengaphantsi kwiingelosi, babezizidalwa ezikrelekrele ezinako ukwenza izigqibo zobulumko. (INdumiso 8:4, 5) Noko ke, loo nkululeko babeyifumene kuThixo yayingabaniki imvume yokuzigqibela ngoko kulungileyo nokubi. Babeza kuphendula kuMdali wabo, yaye oku kuphenduliswa kwanabela kuyo yonke inzala yabo.
2. Ngoobani uYehova aza kubaphendulisa kungekudala, yaye kutheni?
2 Ngoku ekubeni sisondele kwincopho yale nkqubo yezinto ingendawo, uYehova uya kubaphendulisa abantu abasemhlabeni. (Thelekisa amaRoma 9:28.) Kungekudala, abantu abangahloneli Thixo kuza kufuneka baphendule kuYehova uThixo ngokonakalisa umhlaba, ngokutshabalalisa abantu yaye ngokukodwa ngokutshutshisa abakhonzi bakhe.—ISityhilelo 6:10; 11:18.
3. Yiyiphi imibuzo eza kuxutyushwa?
3 Ekubeni sinombono woko kuza kwenzeka kwikamva, siya kungenelwa ngokucinga ngobulungisa obabubonakaliswa nguYehova xa wayeqhubana nezidalwa zakhe kumaxesha amandulo. Zinokusinceda njani iZibhalo, ukuze sikwazi ukuziphendulela kuMdali wethu? Yiyiphi imizekelo enokusinceda, yaye yiyiphi esifanele sikuphephe ukuyixelisa?
Iingelosi Zimele Ziphendule
4. Sazi njani ukuba uThixo umele aziphendulise iingelosi ngezenzo zazo?
4 Iingelosi ezizizidalwa zikaYehova zasezulwini nazo zimele ziphendule kanye njengoko nathi simele siphendule. Ngaphambi koMkhukula womhla kaNowa, ngokuswel’ intobelo ezinye iingelosi zazambathisa imizimba yenyama ukuze zibe neentlobano zesini namabhinqa. Njengezidalwa ezinenkululeko yokuzikhethela, ezi zidalwa zomoya zakwazi ukuzenzela eso sigqibo, noko ke uThixo waziphendulisa. Xa ezo ngelosi zingenantobelo zabuyela kummandla womoya, uYehova akazange azivumele ukuba zibuyele kwizigxina zazo zangaphambili. Umfundi uYude usixelela ukuba ‘zibekelwe umgwebo wemini enkulu ngemixokelelwane kanaphakade phantsi kwentsunguzi yobumnyama.’—Yude 6.
5. USathana needemon zakhe baye balahlwa njani, yaye iya kuzinziswa njani imvukelo yabo?
5 Ezi ngelosi zingenantobelo, okanye iidemon, zilawulwa nguSathana uMtyholi. (Mateyu 12:24-26) Le ngelosi ingendawo yavukela uMdali wayo yaza yakucel’ umngeni ukulunga kolongamo lukaYehova. USathana wakhokelela abazali bethu bokuqala esonweni, yaye oku kwakhokelela ekubeni bafe ekugqibeleni. (Genesis 3:1-7, 17-19) Nangona uYehova wamvumela uSathana ukuba abuyele kwiintendelezo zasezulwini kangangethuba elithile emva koko, incwadi yeBhayibhile yeSityhilelo yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba ngexesha likaThixo elifanelekileyo, lo ungendawo wayeya kulahlelwa emhlabeni. Ubungqina bubonisa ukuba oku kwenzeka emva nje kokunikwa kukaYesu Kristu igunya loBukumkani ngowe-1914. Ekugqibeleni, uMtyholi needemon zakhe baya kutshatyalaliswa ngonaphakade. Ekubeni imbambano yolongamo iya kube iconjululwe, isono semvukelo siya kube sizinziswe ngokusesikweni.—Yobhi 1:6-12; 2:1-7; ISityhilelo 12:7-9; 20:10.
UNyana KaThixo Umele Aziphendulele
6. UYesu usigqala njani isibakala sokuphendula kwakhe kuYise?
6 Onjani ukuba mhle umzekelo esiye sawumiselwa nguNyana kaThixo, uYesu Kristu! Njengomntu ofezekileyo owayelingana noAdam, uYesu wayekuvuyela ukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. Kwakhona wayekuvuyela ukuphenduliswa ngokwenza umthetho kaYehova. Ngokuphathelele yena, ngokufanelekileyo umdumisi waprofeta esithi: “Ukwenza okulikholo kuwe, Thixo wam, ndikunanzile; nomyalelo wakho usezibilinini zam ngaphakathi.”—INdumiso 40:8; Hebhere 10:6-9.
7. Xa wayethandaza ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, kwakutheni ukuze uYesu athethe amazwi abhalwe kuYohane 17:4, 5?
7 Nangona wayechaswa ngokukrakra, uYesu wenza ukuthanda kukaThixo waza wagcina ingqibelelo kwada kwesa ekufeni kwisibonda sentuthumbo. Ngaloo ndlela wayihlawula intlawulelo yokukhulula uluntu kwimiphumo yokufa yesono sika-Adam. (Mateyu 20:28) Ngoko, ngobusuku bangaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uYesu wayenokuthandaza eqinisekile athi: “Ndikuzukisile emhlabeni, ekubeni ndiwugqibile umsebenzi obundinikile ukuba ndiwenze. Ngoku ke wena, Bawo, ndizukise ecaleni kwakho ngozuko endandinalo ecaleni kwakho phambi kokubakho kwehlabathi.” (Yohane 17:4, 5) UYesu wayenokuwathetha loo mazwi kuYise wasezulwini kuba wayelusingatha ngempumelelo uvavanyo lokuziphendulela yaye uThixo wayekholiswa koko.
8. (a) UPawulos wabonisa njani ukuba simele siziphendulele kuYehova uThixo? (b) Yintoni eya kusinceda samkeleke kuThixo?
8 Ngokwahlukileyo kumntu ofezekileyo uYesu Kristu, thina asifezekanga. Sekunjalo, siya kuphendula kuThixo. Umpostile uPawulos wathi: “Kutheni umgweba nje umzalwana wakho? Okanye kutheni ukwamjongela phantsi nje umzalwana wakho? Kuba sonke siya kuma phambi kwesihlalo sokugweba sikaThixo; kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa: ‘“Njengoko ndiphila,” utsho uYehova, “aya kugoba kum onke amadolo, yaye zonke iilwimi ziya kumvuma ekuhleni uThixo.”’ Ngoko ke, ngamnye wethu uya kunikela ingxelo [kuziphendulela] kuThixo.” (Roma 14:10-12) Ukuze senjenjalo size samkeleke kuYehova, ngothando uye wasinika isazela neLizwi lakhe eliphefumlelweyo, iBhayibhile, ukuze zisikhokele kwiintetho nakwizenzo zethu. (Roma 2:14, 15; 2 Timoti 3:16, 17) Ukuwasebenzisa ngokuzeleyo amalungiselelo okomoya kaYehova nokulandela izazela zethu eziqeqeshwe ngeBhayibhile kuya kusinceda samkeleke kuThixo. (Mateyu 24:45-47) Umoya oyingcwele kaYehova, okanye amandla akhe asebenzayo, ayinxalenye yomthombo wamandla nokhokelo. Ukuba silandela ukhokelo lomoya nolwezazela zethu eziqeqeshwe ngeBhayibhile, sibonakalisa ukuba ‘asimgatyi uThixo,’ esimele siphendule kuye ngazo zonke izenzo zethu.—1 Tesalonika 4:3-8; 1 Petros 3:16, 21.
Iintlanga Ziya Kuphendula
9. Ayengoobani amaEdom, yaye kwenzeka ntoni kuwo ngenxa yendlela awayewaphethe ngayo amaSirayeli?
9 UYehova uya kuziphendulisa iintlanga. (Yeremiya 25:12-14; Zefaniya 3:6, 7) Cinga ngobukumkani bamandulo bakwaEdom, obabusemazantsi oLwandle Olufileyo nasemantla eNyoba iAqaba. AmaEdom ayeluhlanga lwamaSemite, ayezizalamane zamaSirayeli. Nangona ukhokho wamaEdom wayengumzukulwana ka-Abraham uEsawu, amaSirayeli akazange avunyelwe ukuba anqumle kwaEdom ‘kumendo wenkosi’ ngoxa ayesinge kwiLizwe Ledinga. (Numeri 20:14-21) Ekuhambeni kweenkulungwane inzondo yamaEdom yakhula de awathiya ngokukrakra amaSirayeli. Ekugqibeleni, kwafuneka ukuba amaEdom aphendule ngokucela amaBhabhiloni ukuba atshabalalise iYerusalem ngowama-607 B.C.E. (INdumiso 137:7) Ngenkulungwane yesithandathu ngaphambi kweXesha lethu Eliqhelekileyo, imikhosi yamaBhabhiloni ngaphantsi kukaKumkani uNabonidus yahlasela elakwaEdom, yaza yalibhangisa ngokupheleleyo, kuzaliseka amazwi kaYehova.—Yeremiya 49:20; Obhadiya 9-11.
10. AmaMowabhi awaphatha njani amaSirayeli, yaye uThixo wawaphendulisa njani amaMowabhi?
10 Kwenzeka okufanayo nakumaMowabhi. Ubukumkani bakwaMowabhi babungasentla kwelakwaEdom yaye bungasempuma koLwandle Olufileyo. Ngaphambi kokungena kwamaSirayeli kwiLizwe Ledinga, amaMowabhi akazange awamkele ngobubele, mhlawumbi awanika isonka namanzi ukuze azuze imali kuphela. (Duteronomi 23:3, 4) UKumkani wakwaMowabhi uBhalaki wathenga umprofeti uBhileham ukuze aqalekise amaSirayeli, yaye abafazi bakwaMowabhi babedla ngokuwahenda amadoda akwaSirayeli ukuba aziphathe kakubi yaye akhonze izithixo. (Numeri 22:2-8; 25:1-9) Noko ke, uYehova akazange ayibethe ngoyaba intiyo yamaMowabhi nxamnye namaSirayeli. Njengoko kwakuprofetiwe, amaMowabhi atshatyalaliswa ngamaBhabhiloni. (Yeremiya 9:25, 26; Zefaniya 2:8-11) Ewe, uThixo wawaphendulisa amaMowabhi.
11. Ziziphi izixeko elathi lafana nazo elakwaMowabhi nelakwa-Amon, yaye zithini iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ngokuphathelele inkqubo yezinto engendawo yanamhlanje?
11 AsingomaMowabhi kuphela ekwafuneka aphendule kuThixo kodwa nama-Amon. Kwangaphambili uYehova wathi: “ElakwaMowabhi liya kuba njengeSodom, neloonyana baka-Amon libe njengeGomora, libe lilifa lamarhawu, libe sisigingqi setyuwa, kube senkangala kulo, kude kuse ephakadeni.” (Zefaniya 2:9) Ilizwe lakwaMowabhi nelakwa-Amon abhangiswa, kanye njengoko uThixo watshabalalisa isixeko saseSodom nesaseGomora. Ngokutsho kweGeological Society of London, abaphengululi bathi bayifumene indawo eyayikuyo iSodom neGomora kunxweme olungasempuma kuLwandle Olufileyo. Nabuphi na ubungqina abanokubufumana apho bunokungqinela iziprofeto zeBhayibhile ezibonisa ukuba inkqubo yezinto yanamhlanje engendawo iya kuphendula kuYehova uThixo.—2 Petros 3:6-12.
12. Nangona kwafuneka uSirayeli aphendule kuThixo ngenxa yezono zakhe, yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili ngokuphathelele intsalela yamaYuda?
12 Nangona uSirayeli wayexatyiswe kakhulu nguYehova, wayeza kuphendula kuThixo ngezono zakhe. Xa uYesu Kristu weza kuhlanga lakwaSirayeli, abaninzi kulo bamgatya. Yintsalela kuphela eyaba nokholo kuye yaza yangabalandeli bakhe. UPawulos wanxulumanisa iziprofeto ezithile nale ntsalela yamaYuda xa wabhala oku: “UIsaya uyadanduluka ngokuphathelele uSirayeli esithi: ‘Nangona inani loonyana bakaSirayeli lisenokuba ngangentlabathi yolwandle, yintsalela eya kusindiswa. Kuba uYehova uya kubaphendulisa abasemhlabeni, akugqiba aze akunqumle kube kufutshane.’ Kanjalo, kunjengokuba kanye uIsaya wayetshilo kwixesha langaphambili ukuthi: ‘Ngaphandle kokuba uYehova wemikhosi asishiyele imbewu, ngesasibe njengeSodom kanye, okanye ngesasenziwe saba njengeGomora kanye.’” (Roma 9:27-29; Isaya 1:9; 10:22, 23) Lo mpostile wacaphula umzekelo wama-7 000 omhla kaEliya awayengazange aqubude kuBhahali, waza wathi: “Ngale ndlela, ke ngoko, kanjalo ngeli xesha langoku kuye kwakho intsalela yabanyuliweyo ngobubele obungasifanelanga.” (Roma 11:5) Loo ntsalela yayiyilwe ngabantu abathi bakwazi ukuziphendulela kuThixo.
Imizekelo Yabantu Ekwafuneka Baziphendulele
13. Kwenzeka ntoni kuKayin xa uThixo wamphendulisa ngokubulala umntakwabo uAbheli?
13 IBhayibhile ikhankanya abantu abaninzi ekwafuneka baziphendulele kuYehova uThixo. Ngokomzekelo, masicinge ngonyana wamazibulo ka-Adam, uKayin. Ekunye nomntakwabo uAbheli, benza iminikelo kuYehova. Umnikelo ka-Abheli wamkelwa nguThixo, kodwa okaKayin awuzange wamkelwe. Xa kwafuneka aphendule ngokubulala umntakwabo ngenkohlakalo, ngokungenalusini uKayin wathi kuThixo: “Ndingumgcini womninawa wam, yini na?” Ngenxa yesono sakhe, uKayin wagxothelwa “ezweni lakwaKuphalaphala phambi kwe-Eden.” Akazange abonakalise inguquko esuk’ entliziyweni ngesenzo sakhe solwaphulo-mthetho, ekuphela kwento eyayimkhathaza yayisisohlwayo esasimfanele.—Genesis 4:3-16.
14. Kwaboniswa njani kwimeko yombingeleli omkhulu uEli nakoonyana bakhe ukuba abantu baya kuphendula kuThixo?
14 Omnye umzekelo womntu ekwafuneka aziphendulele kuThixo ngumbingeleli omkhulu wakwaSirayeli uEli. Oonyana bakhe, uHofeni noPinehasi, babekhonza njengababingeleli kodwa ngokutsho kombhali-mbali uJosephus “babenetyala lokuxhaphaza abantu, ibe babengamhloneli uThixo, yaye babesenza zonke izinto ezingendawo.” La “matshijolo” ayengamkhathalelanga uYehova, ayebandakanyeke kwihambo engendawo ngokulihlazo, yaye eziphethe kakubi. (1 Samuweli 1:3; 2:12-17, 22-25) Ekubeni wayenguyise yaye engumbingeleli omkhulu wakwaSirayeli, uEli wayefanele abohlwaye, kodwa wayesuka abaluleke ngamazwi athambileyo. UEli ‘wayebazukisa oonyana bakhe ngaphezu kukaYehova.’ (1 Samuweli 2:29) Indlu kaEli yafikelwa yimpindezelo. Bobabini oonyana bakhe bafa ngosuku awafa ngalo uyise, yaye ekugqibeleni umnombo wabo wobubingeleli wanqanyulwa ngokupheleleyo. Lazinziswa ngaloo ndlela ke ityala labo.—1 Samuweli 3:13, 14; 4:11, 17, 18.
15. Kwakutheni ukuze unyana kaKumkani uSawule uYonatan avuzwe?
15 Unyana kaKumkani uSawule uYonatan, wamisela umzekelo owahluke ngokupheleleyo. Emva nje kokuba uDavide ebulele uGoliyati, “umphefumlo kaYonatan wabophana nomphefumlo kaDavide,” yaye benza umnqophiso wobuhlobo. (1 Samuweli 18:1, 3) Mhlawumbi, uYonatan waphawula ukuba umoya kaThixo wawumshiyile uSawule, kodwa oko akuzange kuyiphelise inzondelelo yakhe ngonqulo lokwenyaniso. (1 Samuweli 16:14) Ayizange imsithele uYonatan into yokuba igunya likaDavide lalivela kuThixo. UYonatan wayeqonda ukuba wayeza kuphendula kuThixo, yaye uYehova wamvuza ngekhondo lakhe elihle ngokuqinisekisa ukuba umnombo wentsapho yakhe uqhubeke ukho kangangezizukulwana.—1 Kronike 8:33-40.
Ukuziphendulela Kwibandla LamaKristu
16. Wayengubani uTito, yaye kutheni kunokuthiwa wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuThixo?
16 IZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike zithetha kakuhle ngamadoda nabafazi abaninzi abathi bakwazi ukuziphendulela. Ngokomzekelo, kwakukho umKristu ongumGrike ogama linguTito. Kuthiwa waba ngumKristu ebudeni bohambo lokuqala lukaPawulos njengomhambisi wevangeli eSipro. Ekubeni amaYuda namaguquka aseSipro asenokuba ayeseYerusalem ebudeni bePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., ubuKristu bumele ukuba bafikelela kweso siqithi emva nje koko. (IZenzo 11:19) Sekunjalo, uTito wangqineka engomnye wabantu abathembekileyo ababesebenza noPawulos. Wapheleka uPawulos noBharnabhas kuhambo oluya eYerusalem ngowama-49 C.E., xa kwaconjululwa imbambano ebalulekileyo yolwaluko. Isibakala sokuba uTito wayengalukanga salenza lavakala ilizwi likaPawulos lokuba abantu abaguqukele kubuKristu babengafanele babe phantsi koMthetho kaMoses. (Galati 2:1-3) IZibhalo ziyathetha ngobulungiseleli obuhle bukaTito, yaye uPawulos wade wambhalela ileta ephefumlelwe nguThixo. (2 Korinte 7:6; Tito 1:1-4) Ubungqina bubonisa ukuba uTito waqhubeka ekulungele ukuziphendulela kuThixo de waligqiba ikhondo lakhe lasemhlabeni.
17. UTimoti waziphendulela njani, yaye lo mzekelo unokusichaphazela njani?
17 UTimoti wayengomnye umntu owayenenzondelelo nowathi wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuYehova uThixo. Nangona uTimoti wayeneengxaki zempilo, wabonakalisa ‘ukholo olungenalo naluphi na uhanahaniso’ yaye ‘waba likhoboka kunye noPawulos ekuhambiseleni ngokubhekele phaya iindaba ezilungileyo.’ Ngoko lo mpostile wayenokuwaxelela oku amaKristu aseFilipi: “Andinabani ungomnye onotyekelo [olunjengolukaTimoti] oya kuzinyamekela ngokwenene izinto eziphathelele nina.” (2 Timoti 1:5; Filipi 2:20, 22; 1 Timoti 5:23) Xa sijamelana nokugula nezinye izilingo, nathi sinokuba nokholo olungenaluhanahaniso size sikwazi ukuziphendulela kuThixo.
18. Wayengubani uLidiya, yaye wayenaziphi iimpawu?
18 ULidiya wayengumfazi omoyikayo uThixo ekubonakala ukuba wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuThixo. Yena nentsapho yakhe babephakathi kwabantu bokuqala ukwamkela ubuKristu eYurophu ngenxa yobulungiseleli bukaPawulos eFilipi malunga nowama-50 C.E. Njengenzalelwane yaseTiyatira, uLidiya umele ukuba wayeguqukele kubuYuda, kodwa asenokuba ayembalwa amaYuda eFilipi yaye kwakungekho ndlu yonqulo apho. Wayekunye nabanye abafazi abazinikeleyo ngasemlanjeni xa uPawulos wathetha kunye nabo. Ngenxa yoko, uLidiya waba ngumKristu yaye wameyisela uPawulos nezinxulumani zakhe ekubeni bafikele endlwini yakhe. (IZenzo 16:12-15) Ukubuk’ iindwendwe okwabonakaliswa nguLidiya kuseluphawu olubalaseleyo lwamaKristu okwenyaniso.
19. Kungenxa yaziphi izenzo ezilungileyo awathi uDorkas wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuThixo?
19 UDorkas wayengomnye umfazi owathi wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuYehova uThixo. Ekufeni kwakhe, uPetros waya eYopa esabela kwisicelo sabafundi ababehlala apho. Amadoda amabini awayethunyelwe kuPetros “amkhokelela kwigumbi eliphezulu; baza bonke abahlolokazi beza kuye belila kwaye bembonisa izambatho zangaphakathi nezambatho zangaphandle ezo uDorkas wayefudula ezenza ngoxa wayenabo.” UDorkas wabuyiselwa ebomini. Kodwa ngaba ekuphela kwento esimkhumbula ngayo kukuba wayenesisa? Akunjalo. ‘Wayengumfundi’ yaye ngokuqinisekileyo wayesiba nenxaxheba kumsebenzi wokwenza abafundi. Ngokufanayo abafazi abangamaKristu namhlanje ‘baphuphuma izenzo ezilungileyo nezipho zenceba.’ Kwakhona bayakuvuyela ukuba nenxaxheba ekuvakaliseni iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani nasekwenzeni abafundi.—IZenzo 9:36-42; Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20.
20. Yiyiphi imibuzo esisenokuzibuza yona?
20 IBhayibhile ibonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba iintlanga nabantu bamele baziphendulele kwiNkosi enguMongami uYehova. (Zefaniya 1:7) Ukuba sizahlulele kuThixo, ngoko ke sisenokuzibuza oku, ‘Ndiwajonga njani amalungelo neembopheleleko endizinikwe nguThixo? Ndinokuziphendulela njani kuYehova uThixo nakuYesu Kristu?’
Zithini Iimpendulo Zakho?
◻ Unokukungqina njani ukuba iingelosi noNyana kaThixo kufuneka baphendule kuYehova?
◻ Yiyiphi imizekelo eseBhayibhileni ebonisa ukuba uThixo uya kuziphendulisa iintlanga?
◻ Ithini iBhayibhile ngabantu ekwafuneka baziphendulele kuThixo?
◻ Ngoobani abantu ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni abathi bakwazi ukuziphendulela kuYehova uThixo?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]
UYesu Kristu wakwazi ukuziphendulela kuYise wasezulwini
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 15]
Ngokufanayo noDorkas, abafazi abangamaKristu namhlanje banokuziphendulela kuYehova uThixo
[Inkcazelo Ngomfanekiso okwiphepha 13]
The Death of Abel/The Doré Bible Illustrations/Dover Publications, Inc.