Ngaba Uyilungele Imini KaYehova?

“Isondele imini enkulu kaYehova, isondele, ikhawulezile kakhulu.”—ZEFANIYA 1:14.

1. IZibhalo ziyichaza njani imini kaYehova?

KUNGEKUDALA kuza kufika ‘imini enkulu eyoyikekayo’ kaYehova kule nkqubo ingendawo yezinto. IZibhalo zichaza imini kaYehova njengemini yedabi, ubumnyama, ingqumbo, unxunguphalo, intlungu, uloyiko nosizi. Ukanti, kuya kubakho abasindayo, kuba “bothi bonke abasukuba benqula igama likaYehova, basinde.” (Yoweli 2:30-32; Amosi 5:18-20) Ewe, ngelo xesha uThixo uya kutshabalalisa iintshaba zakhe aze asindise abantu bakhe.

2. Kutheni sifanele sibe nemvo yongxamiseko ngemini kaYehova?

² Abaprofeti bakaThixo bachaza imini kaYehova njengeza ngokukhawuleza. Ngokomzekelo, uZefaniya wabhala: “Isondele imini enkulu kaYehova, isondele, ikhawulezile kakhulu.” (Zefaniya 1:14) Le meko ingxamiseke nangaphezulu namhlanje kuba uMgwebi Omkhulu kaThixo, uKumkani uYesu Kristu, sele eza ‘kubhinqa ikrele lakhe ethangeni, aze akhwele ahambe ngenxa yenyaniso, nolulamo olunobulungisa.’ (INdumiso 45:3, 4) Ngaba uyilungele loo mini?

Babeyilindele Ngolangazelelo

3. Luluphi ulindelo awayenalo amanye amaKristu aseTesalonika, ibe ziziphi izizathu ezibini ezibonisa ukuba ayephazama?

³ Abaninzi baye baba nolindelo olungazalisekiswanga ngokuphathelele imini kaYehova. Wambi kumaKristu aseTesalonika athi, “imini kaYehova ilapha.” (2 Tesalonika 2:2) Kodwa kwakukho izizathu ezibini ezisisiseko zokuba ibe yayingekafiki. Ecaphula esinye sazo, umpostile uPawulos wayethe: “Xa sukuba besithi: ‘Uxolo nonqabiseko!’ iza kwandula ke intshabalalo yequbuliso ibafikele ngephanyazo.” (1 Tesalonika 5:1-6) Kweli “xesha lokuphela,” nathi silindele ukuzaliseka kwaloo mazwi. (Daniyeli 12:4) Kwakhona abaseTesalonika babeswele obunye ubungqina bokuba imini enkulu kaYehova yayisele ifikile, kuba uPawulos wabaxelela oku: “Ayiyi kuza ngaphandle kokuba kufike uwexuko kuqala.” (2 Tesalonika 2:3) Xa uPawulos wayebhala loo mazwi (malunga nowama-51 C.E.), ‘uwexuko’ kubuKristu bokwenyaniso lwalungekahambeli phambili ngokupheleleyo. Namhlanje, silubona luphelele kwiNgqobhoko. Noko ke, phezu kwalo nje ulindelo lwabo olungazalisekiswanga, abo bathanjisiweyo abathembekileyo baseTesalonika, abaqhubeka bekhonza uThixo ngokuthembeka de kwasa ekufeni, bafumana umvuzo wabo wasezulwini ekugqibeleni. (ISityhilelo 2:10) Nathi siya kuvuzwa ukuba sihlala sithembekile njengoko silinde imini kaYehova.

4. (a) Imini kaYehova inxulunyaniswa nantoni kweyesi-2 kwabaseTesalonika 2:1, 2? (b) Ziziphi iimbono ababenazo abo babizwa ngokuba ngaBaseki beCawa ngokuphathelele ukubuya kukaKristu nezinto ezinxibelelene nako?

⁴ IBhayibhile inxibelelanisa “imini enkulu kaYehova” ‘nobukho beNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.’ (2 Tesalonika 2:1, 2) Abo babizwa ngokuba ngaBaseki beCawa babeneengcamango ezahlukeneyo ngokubuya, ubukho, noLawulo Lwewaka Leminyaka lukaKristu. (ISityhilelo 20:4) Ngenkulungwane yesibini yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo, uPapias waseHirapoli wayelindele ukuba umhlaba uchume ngendlela emangalisayo ebudeni boLawulo Lwewaka Leminyaka lukaKristu. UJustin Martyr wathetha ngokuphindaphindiweyo ngobukho bukaYesu waza walindela ukuba iYerusalem ebuyiselweyo ibe likomkhulu loBukumkani Bakhe. UIrenæus waseLyons wafundisa ukuba emva kokutshatyalaliswa koBukhosi bamaRoma, uYesu wayeya kuvela ngokubonakalayo, abophe uSathana, aze alawule kwiYerusalem yasemhlabeni.

5. Baye bathini abanye abaphengululi “ngoKuza Kwesibini” kukaKristu noLawulo lwakhe Lwewaka Leminyaka?

⁵ Umbhali-mbali uPhilip Schaff wathi “eyona nto yayibangel’ umdla” ngexesha langaphambi kweBhunga laseNicaea ngowama-325 C.E. “yinkolelo yokulawula emhlabeni ngokubonakalayo kukaKristu ozukisiweyo kunye neengcwele ezivusiweyo kangangeminyaka eliwaka, ngaphambi kovuko lomntu wonke nomgwebo.” IA Dictionary of the Bible, ehlelwe nguJames Hastings, ithi: “UTertullian, uIrenæus noHippolytus basalindele Ukuza ngephanyazo [kukaYesu Kristu]; kodwa kuBaseki bonqulo lwaseAlexandria sifikelela kwenye ingcamango entsha. . . . Ekubeni uAugustine enxibelelanisa iWaka Leminyaka nexesha lamagorha eCawa, Ukuza Kwesibini kubekelwa ixesha elikude elizayo.”

Imini KaYehova Nobukho BukaYesu

6. Kutheni singafanele sigqibe kwelokuba imini kaYehova ikude?

⁶ Ukungaziqondi kakuhle izinto kuye kwakhokelela ekuphoxekeni, kodwa masingacingi ukuba imini kaYehova ikude gqitha. Ubukho bukaYesu obungabonakaliyo, obunxulunyaniswa nayo eZibhalweni, sele buqalisile. IMboniselo nezinye iimpapasho ezifana nayo zamaNgqina kaYehova ngokufuthi ziye zanikela ubungqina obungokweZibhalo bokuba ubukho bukaKristu baqalisa ngowe-1914.a Ngoko ke, wathini uYesu ngobukho bakhe?

7. (a) Ngabaphi abanye oothunywashe bomqondiso wobukho bukaYesu nowokuqosheliswa kwale nkqubo yezinto? (b) Sinokusindiswa njani?

⁷ Ubukho bukaYesu baba ngumxholo wencoko ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe. Emva kokumva echaza kwangaphambili ngokutshatyalaliswa kwetempile yaseYerusalem, abapostile bakhe uPetros, uYakobi, uYohane noAndreya bambuza: “Ziya kubakho nini na ezi zinto, kwaye uya kuba yintoni na umqondiso wobukho bakho nowokuqosheliswa kwenkqubo yezinto?” (Mateyu 24:1-3; Marko 13:3, 4) Ephendula, uYesu waxela kwangaphambili ngeemfazwe, iindlala, iinyikima zomhlaba, nabanye oothunywashe ‘abangumqondiso’ wobukho bakhe nowokuqosheliswa kwenkqubo yezinto. Kwakhona wathi: “Lowo unyamezele kwada kwasekupheleni ngulowo oya kusindiswa.” (Mateyu 24:13) Siya kusindiswa ukuba sinyamezela ngokuthembeka kude kuse esiphelweni sobu bomi sibuphilayo okanye esiphelweni sale nkqubo ingendawo.

8. Ngaphambi kokuphela kwenkqubo yamaYuda, yintoni eyayiseza kuphunyezwa, ibe yintoni eyenziwayo ngaloo nto namhlanje?

⁸ Ngaphambi kokuba kufike isiphelo, kuya kuzaliseka inkalo ebaluleke ngokukhethekileyo yobukho bukaYesu. Ngokuphathelele le nkalo, wathi: “Ezi ndaba zilungileyo zobukumkani ziya kushunyayelwa kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo kube bubungqina kuzo zonke iintlanga; kwandule ke kufike ukuphela.” (Mateyu 24:14) Ngaphambi kokuba amaRoma atshabalalise iYerusalem nenkqubo yezinto yamaYuda iphele ngowama-70 C.E., uPawulos wayenokutsho ukuba iindaba ezilungileyo “zashunyayelwa kwindalo yonke ephantsi kwezulu.” (Kolose 1:23) Noko ke, namhlanje umsebenzi omkhulu nangakumbi wokushumayela wenziwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova “kuwo wonke umhlaba omiweyo.” Ebudeni beminyaka embalwa edluleyo, uThixo uye wahlahl’ indlela ukuze kunikelwe ubungqina obungakumbi eMpuma Yurophu. Ekubeni inezakhiwo zokushicilela nezinye izakhiwo ehlabathini lonke, intlangano kaYehova ilungele umsebenzi ongakumbi, ‘kwanakumhlaba ongachukunyiswanga.’ (Roma 15:22, 23) Ngaba intliziyo yakho ikushukumisela ukuba wenze okusemandleni akho ekunikeleni ubungqina ngaphambi kokuba isiphelo sifike? Ukuba kunjalo, uThixo unokukomeleza ukuze ube nesabelo esinomvuzo kumsebenzi ongaphambili.—Filipi 4:13; 2 Timoti 4:17.

9. Yiyiphi ingongoma eyaveliswa nguYesu, njengoko kubhalwe kuMateyu 24:36?

⁹ Umsebenzi owaxelwa kwangaphambili wokushumayela ngoBukumkani nezinye iinkalo zobukho bukaYesu uyazalisekiswa ngoku. Ngenxa yoko, isiphelo sale nkqubo ingendawo yezinto sisemnyango. Eneneni, uYesu wathi: “Ngokuphathelele loo mhla nelo lixa akukho bani waziyo, azazi neengelosi zamazulu engazi noNyana, kodwa nguBawo kuphela.” (Mateyu 24:4-14, 36) Kodwa isiprofeto sikaYesu sinokusinceda silungele “loo mhla nelo lixa.”

Babeyilungele

10. Sazi njani ukuba kunokwenzeka ukuhlala sivukile ngokomoya?

¹⁰ Ukuze sisinde ngemini enkulu kaYehova, simele sihlale sivukile ngokomoya size siqine kunqulo lokwenyaniso. (1 Korinte 16:13) Siyazi ukuba kunokwenzeka ukuba sinyamezele ngolo hlobo, kuba intsapho eyayisoyika uThixo yenjenjalo yaza yasinda kuMkhukula owatshabalalisa abantu abangendawo ngowama-2370 B.C.E. Ethelekisa elo xesha nobukho bakhe, uYesu wathi: “Kanye njengokuba yayinjalo imihla kaNowa, buya kuba njalo ubukho boNyana womntu. Kuba njengokuba babenjalo ngaloo mihla yangaphambi komkhukula, besidla yaye besela, amadoda etshata kwaye abafazi benikelwa emtshatweni, de kwaba yimini awangena ngayo uNowa emkhombeni; kwaye abazange banikele ngqalelo de wafika umkhukula waza wabatshayela bonke, nobukho boNyana womntu buya kuba njalo.”—Mateyu 24:37-39.

11. Liliphi ikhondo elalandelwa nguNowa phezu kwalo nje ugonyamelo olwalukho ngomhla wakhe?

¹¹ Njengathi, uNowa nentsapho yakhe babephila kwihlabathi elinogonyamelo. “Oonyana bakaThixo” abangathobeliyo abaziingelosi bambatha imizimba yenyama baza bathabatha abafazi abazala iiNgxilimbela ezazidume kakubi—iindlobongela ezathi ngokungathandabuzekiyo zabangela ugonyamelo luthabath’ unyawo. (Genesis 6:1, 2, 4; 1 Petros 3:19, 20) Noko ke, ngokholo “uNowa wahamba noThixo.” ‘Wayegqibelele esizukulwaneni sakhe’—isizukulwana esingendawo somhla wakhe. (Genesis 6:9-11) Ngokwayama ngoThixo ngomthandazo, sinokwenza okufanayo kweli hlabathi linogonyamelo nelingendawo njengoko silinde imini kaYehova.

12. (a) Ngaphandle kokwakha umkhombe, nguwuphi umsebenzi owenziwa nguNowa? (b) Basabela njani abantu kwintshumayelo kaNowa, ibe umphumo waba yintoni kubo?

¹² UNowa waziwa njengomakhi womkhombe owalondoloza ubomi ebudeni bukaNogumbe. Kwakhona ‘wayengumshumayeli wobulungisa,’ kodwa abantu awayephila nabo ‘abazange banikele ngqalelo’ kwisigidimi sakhe esasivela kuThixo. Babesidla yaye besela, betshata, bekhulisa iintsapho, yaye beqhubeka nobomi obuqhelekileyo de uMkhukula wabatshayela bonke. (2 Petros 2:5; Genesis 6:14) Babengafuni nokuva ngentetho nehambo ethe tye, nanjengoko isizukulwana esingendawo sanamhlanje sivingca iindlebe zaso koko amaNgqina kaYehova akuthethayo “ngenguquko kuThixo,” ukholo kuKristu, ubulungisa, “nomgwebo oza kuza.” (IZenzo 20:20, 21; 24:24, 25) Ayikho ingxelo yenani labantu ababekho emhlabeni xa uNowa wayevakalisa isigidimi sikaThixo. Kodwa into ekunokuqinisekwa ngayo kukuba, abemi bomhlaba baphungulwa kakhulu ngowama-2370 B.C.E.! UNogumbe wabatshayela abangendawo, washiya kuphela abo babesilungele eso senzo sikaThixo—uNowa nabanye abasixhenxe entsatsheni yakhe.—Genesis 7:19-23; 2 Petros 3:5, 6.

13. Nguwuphi umthetho wokugweba uNowa awaba nentembelo epheleleyo kuwo, ibe wenza njani ngokuvisisana nawo?

¹³ UThixo akazange amxelele kusengaphambili uNowa ngomhla nelixa loMkhukula. Noko ke, xa uNowa wayeneminyaka engama-480 ubudala, uYehova wamyalela: “UMoya wam akayi kulawula ebantwini ngonaphakade; ekulahlekeni kwabo bayinyama; imihla yabo iya kuba yiminyaka elikhulu elinamanci mabini.” (Genesis 6:3) UNowa waba nentembelo epheleleyo kumthetho kaThixo wokugweba. Emva kokufikelela kubudala beminyaka engama-500, “wazala ooShem noHam noYafete,” ibe isithethe saloo mihla sibonisa ukuba kwadlula iminyaka engama-50 ukusa kwengama-60 ngaphambi kokuba oonyana bakhe batshate. Xa uNowa waxelelwa ukuba akhe umkhombe ukuze kulondolozwe ubomi ebudeni boMkhukula, kubonakala ukuba abo nyana nabafazi babo bamncedisa kuloo msebenzi. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba ukwakhiwa komkhombe kwakusenziwa ngaxeshanye nenkonzo kaNowa yokuba ‘ngumshumayeli wobulungisa,’ kumgcina exakekile kwiminyaka engama-40 ukusa kwengama-50 ngaphambi koMkhukula. (Genesis 5:32; 6:13-22) Kuyo yonke loo minyaka, yena nentsapho yakhe babonakalisa ukholo. Nathi masibonakalise ukholo njengoko sishumayela iindaba ezilungileyo yaye silinde imini kaYehova.—Hebhere 11:7.

14. Yintoni uYehova awayixelela uNowa ekugqibeleni, ibe ngoba?

¹⁴ Njengoko umkhombe wawusele uza kugqitywa, uNowa usenokuba wacinga ukuba kwakumbovu ukuba uMkhukula uqalise, nangona wayengalazi ixesha owawuza kuqalisa ngalo. Ekugqibeleni uYehova wamxelela: “Kuba zisesixhenxe iintsuku, ndize ndinise imvula ehlabathini iimini zibe mashumi mane nobusuku obumashumi mane.” (Genesis 7:4) Oko kwanika uNowa nentsapho yakhe ithuba elaneleyo lokuqokelela zonke iindidi zezilwanyana baze bazingenise emkhombeni ngaphambi kokuba uMkhukula uqalise. Akuyomfuneko ukuba sazi umhla nelixa lokuqalisa kokutshatyalaliswa kwale nkqubo; ukusinda kwezilwanyana akuxhomekekanga kuthi, kwaye abo baza kuba ngabasindi sele bengena kumkhombe wokomfuziselo, iparadesi yokomoya yabantu bakaThixo.

“Hlalani Nilindile”

15. (a) Ngawakho amazwi, ungawachaza njani amazwi kaYesu afumaneka kuMateyu 24:40-44? (b) Ukungazi elona xesha lokuza kukaYesu ukuza kuphindezelela uThixo kunawuphi umphumo?

¹⁵ Ngokuphathelele ubukho bakhe, uYesu wachaza: “Ngoko amadoda amabini aya kube esentsimini [esebenza]: enye iya kuthatyathwa ize enye ishiywe; abafazi ababini baya kube besila elityeni lokuguba: omnye uya kuthatyathwa kwaye omnye uya kushiywa. Ngoko ke, hlalani nilindile, ngenxa yokuba aniwazi umhla eza ngawo iNkosi yenu. Kodwa yazini into enye, ukuba umnini-ndlu ebesazi ukuba isela liza ngawuphi na umlindo, ebeya kuhlala evukile aze angavumi ukuba indlu yakhe iqhekezwe. Ngenxa yoku nani zingqineni nilungile, ngenxa yokuba uNyana womntu uza ngelixa eningacinganga ukuba lilo.” (Mateyu 24:40-44; Luka 17:34, 35) Ukungazi kwethu ixesha lokuza kukaYesu ukuza kuphindezelela uThixo kusigcina siphaphile yaye kusinika ithuba lokubonisa ukuba sikhonza uYehova imihla ngemihla singashukunyiswa kukuzingca.

16. Kuya kwenzeka ntoni kwabo ‘bashiyiweyo’ nakwabo ‘bathatyathiweyo’?

¹⁶ Abantu ‘abashiyiweyo’ ukuze batshabalale nabantu abangendawo baya kuquka abo bakhe bakhanyiselwa kodwa babanjiswa bubomi bokuzingca. Ngamana singaphakathi kwabo ‘bathatyathwayo,’ abo bazinikele ngokupheleleyo kuYehova nabanombulelo ngokwenene ngamalungiselelo akhe okomoya awenza ‘ngekhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi.’ (Mateyu 24:45-47) Masikhonze uThixo ‘ngothando oluphuma kwintliziyo ehlambulukileyo noluphuma kwisazela esilungileyo noluphuma kukholo olungenaluhanahaniso’ de kuse esiphelweni.—1 Timoti 1:5.

Izenzo Ezingcwele Zibalulekile

17. (a) Yintoni eyaxelwa kwangaphambili kweyesi-2 kaPetros 3:10? (b) Ziziphi ezinye zezenzo ezikhuthazwa yeyesi-2 kaPetros 3:11?

¹⁷ Umpostile uPetros wabhala: “Imini kaYehova iya kuza njengesela, ekuya kuthi ngayo amazulu adlule eqhuqhumba, kodwa iziqalelo ezishushu kakhulu ziya kuchithakala, nomhlaba kunye nemisebenzi ekuwo uya kufunyaniswa.” (2 Petros 3:10) Amazulu nomhlaba wokomfuziselo akayi kusinda kubushushu bomsindo kaThixo ovuthayo. Ngoko uPetros uyongezelela: ‘Ekubeni zonke ezi zinto ngaloo ndlela ziza kuchithakala, olunjani uhlobo lwabantu enifanele nibe lulo kwihambo yezenzo ezingcwele nezenzo zozinikelo lobuthixo!’ (2 Petros 3:11) Phakathi kwezo zenzo singabala ukuya rhoqo ezintlanganisweni zamaKristu, ukwenzela abanye izinto ezilungileyo, nokuba nesabelo ngokubonakalayo ekushumayeleni iindaba ezilungileyo.—Mateyu 24:14; Hebhere 10:24, 25; 13:16.

18. Ukuba singena nzulu kweli hlabathi, sifanele senze ntoni?

¹⁸ ‘Izenzo ezingcwele nezenzo zozinikelo lobuthixo’ zifuna ‘sizigcine singenabala kulo ihlabathi.’ (Yakobi 1:27) Kodwa kuthekani ukuba siya singena nzulu kweli hlabathi? Mhlawumbi sihendelwa ekubeni nokuma okuyingozi phambi koThixo ngokufuna ukuzonwabisa okungacocekanga okanye ngokuphulaphula umculo neengoma ezikhuthaza umoya weli hlabathi wokungahloneli uThixo. (2 Korinte 6:14-18) Ukuba kunjalo, masifune uncedo lukaThixo ngomthandazo ukuze singadluli nehlabathi kodwa sihlale samkelekile emehlweni oNyana womntu. (Luka 21:34-36; 1 Yohane 2:15-17) Ukuba sizahlulele kuThixo, ngokuqinisekileyo siya kufuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze sakhe size silondoloze ulwalamano lothando kunye naye size ngaloo ndlela silungele imini enkulu eyoyikekayo kaYehova.

19. Kutheni inyambalala yabavakalisi boBukumkani inokulindela ukusinda ekuqoshelisweni kwale nkqubo ingendawo yezinto?

¹⁹ UNowa owayehlonela uThixo kunye nentsapho yakhe wasinda kuMkhukula owatshabalalisa ihlabathi lamandulo. Abantu ababegqibelele basinda ekuphelisweni kwenkqubo yezinto yamaYuda ngowama-70 C.E. Ngokomzekelo, umpostile uYohane wayesakhuthele enkonzweni kaThixo malunga nowama-96 ukusa kowama-98 C.E., xa wabhala incwadi yeSityhilelo, ingxelo yakhe yeVangeli, neencwadi ezintathu eziphefumlelweyo. Kumawaka amkela inyaniso ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., kusenokwenzeka ukuba abanye baphila de kwaphela inkqubo yamaYuda. (IZenzo 1:15; 2:41, 47; 4:4) Namhlanje inyambalala yabavakalisi boBukumkani inokuba nethemba lokusinda ekuqoshelisweni kwale nkqubo ingendawo yezinto.

20. Kutheni sifanele sibe ‘ngabashumayeli bobulungisa’ abanenzondelelo?

²⁰ Ekubeni sele siza kulondolozelwa kwihlabathi elitsha, masibe ‘ngabashumayeli bobulungisa’ abanenzondelelo. Elinjani ukuba lihle ilungelo lokukhonza uThixo kule mihla yokugqibela! Ibe hayi indlela ekuvuyisa ngayo ukwalathisela abantu “kumkhombe” wale mihla, iparadesi yokomoya enanditshwa ngabantu bakaThixo! Ngamana izigidi ezikuyo ngoku zingahlala zithembekile, zivukile ngokomoya, yaye ziyilungele imini enkulu kaYehova. Kodwa yintoni eya kusinceda sonke sihlale sivukile?

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

Ubungaphendula Njani?

◻ Luluphi ulindelo abanye abaye baba nalo ngokuphathelele imini kaYehova nobukho bukaKristu?

◻ Kutheni sinokutsho ukuthi uNowa nentsapho yakhe babewulungele uMkhukula?

◻ Kuya kwenzeka ntoni kwabo ‘bahlala belindile’ nakwabo bangenjinjalo?

◻ Kutheni zibalulekile izenzo ezingcwele, ngokukodwa njengoko sisondela kwimini enkulu kaYehova?