“Isikhathi Esisele Sesinciphile”
1. Kungani abanye becabanga ukuthi isikhathi siyasiphelela isintu?
ISIKHATHI siyasiphelela lesimiso sezinto. Esinye isizathu sokuba abaningi bafinyelele lesiphetho siwukuthi khona kanye ukuba khona kwesintu kusengozini. Ingani, impi yenyukliye ibonakala isemnyango namuhla kangangokuba kuthiwa “kusele imizuzu emithathu ukuba igqashuke”!
2. Yini omunye umlobeli wephephandaba ayisho ngokusongela kwenyukliye?
2 Ebhala ngesihloko esithi “Ithunzi Lebhomu,” umlobeli wephephandaba waseAustralia uNick Brash wathi: “Indukwana kadalimede wegelignite enesisindo sesigamu sekilogremu yanele ukuba idubule umuntu abe yizicucu. Kodwa inqwaba yezikhali zenyukliye namuhla ilingana namathani amane kadalimede wegelignite ngendoda ngayinye, owesifazane nomntwana emhlabeni. Izigidi ezingaphezu kwezi-500 000 zamaRandi ziye zasetshenziselwa ezikhalini zenyukliye nezigidi ezingaphezu kwezi-40 000 zamaRandi ziyochithelwa ezikhalini kuwo wonke umhlaba kulonyaka [1983]. Kuwukubulala okwesabekayo. Kuyafana nokuchela umiyane owodwa ngamathini ayishumi [esibulala zinambuzane] iMortein.”—The Sun Weekend Magazine (Melboume, Australia), ka-April 23, 1983.
3. Yini engase ishiwo ngemiphumela engaba khona yempi yenyukliye?
3 Kunzima ukucabanga ngemiphumela engenzeka yempi yenyukliye. Ngaphandle kokufa kwamakhulu ezigidi, inkungu engasitha imbulunga yonke engenziwa ukuqhuma kwenyukliye, umphumela ezintweni eziphilayo nokuzizungezile nokufanayo, ukuphazamiseka okungakholeki kwezenhlalo, ezombangazwe nezomnotho emhlabeni wonke. Eqinisweni, uDr. Brian Martin, isazi sesayensi nomcwaningi waseYunivesithi Yesizwe yaseAustralia, uyavuma: “Ngokusobala akukho okwaziwa ngokwanele ukuze kubikezelwe ngokuqiniseka imiphumela yempi yenyukliye embulungeni yonke.”
4. (a) Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi isintu asinakuzibhubhisa ngembubhiso yenyukliye? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi isikhathi siyasinciphela lesisimiso sezinto samanje?
4 Ikusasa libonakala liza nenhlekelele ngempela. Kodwa abathanda uNkulunkulu, bama isibindi! Nakuba isikhathi sisinciphela lesisimiso sezinto samanje, isintu asiyikuzibhubhisa embubhisweni yesiyaluyalu senyukliye. Singaqiniseka ngalokhu, ngoba uJehova, “uMbumbi noMenzi” womhlaba “akawudalelanga isiphithiphithi, kodwa wawubumba ukuba kuhlalwe kuwo.” (Isaya 45:18, Byington) Yebo, ukuze isintu sisindiswe ekubhujisweni, kumelwe kuthathwe isinyathelo esingaphezu kwamandla omuntu sokuqeda lesisimiso, kanye nothando lwaso lwenyukliye. Ngokujabulisayo, uMdali wembulunga enguMhlaba nesintu ngokushesha uzobhubhisa lesisimiso esibi nesibulalayo. Isikhathi saso sifushane ngoba “usuku olukhulu lukaJehova” luseduze! (Zefaniya 1:14-18) Kodwa, yeka ukuthi kududuza kanjani ukwazi ukuthi phakathi nosuku lokwahlulela olusondela ngokushesha, ‘uJehova uyolondoloza bonke abamthandayo, kodwa bonke ababi uyakubabhubhisa’!—IHubo 145:20.
Singakanani Isikhathi Esisele?
5. NgokwesAmbulo 6:9, 10, yini abalandeli bakaJesu abagcotshiwe ababenesithakazelo sokuyazi?
5 UNkulunkulu ngokungangabazeki uyothatha isinyathelo ngokumelene nezitha zakhe. Kodwa kuzoba isikhathi eside kangakanani ngaphambi kokuba aphelise lesisimiso sezinto esibi futhi alethe uHlelo lwakhe Olusha lokuthula nokulunga? Ungase ube ufakazi kaJehova ongathanda ukwazi impendulo yalowombuzo. Maqondana nalokhu, unomuzwa ofanayo nowamaKristu agcotshiwe abulewe amelelwe kusAmbulo njengathi: “Koze kube-nini, Mbusi ongcwele noqinisileyo, ungahluleli, uphindisele igazi lethu kulaba abakhileyo emhlabeni na?” (IsAmbulo 6:9, 10) Yebo, ngokomfanekiso labo abagcotshiwe bafuna ukwazi isikhathi uNkulunkulu ayophindisela ngaso igazi labo. Akumangalisi ukuthi bonke oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla babheka ngokulangazelela “ekulweni kosuku olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla onke,” eHarmagedoni!—IsAmbulo 16:14-16.
6, 7. (a) Maqondana nesikhathi, yini uPawulu ayisho kweyoku-1 Korinte 7:29? (b) Iyiphi inkulumo kaPetru egcizelela iqiniso lokuthi lesisimiso siyoba nesiphelo esisabekayo?
6 Labofakazi abagcotshiwe abagazi labo liye lachithwa ngenxa yokwethembeka kwabo kuJehova babesesimweni sokuthola umvuzo, ngoba umlando weBhayibheli uthi: “Base benikwa, kwaba-yilowo nalowo ingubo ende emhlophe, kwashiwo kubo ukuba baphumule isikhashana, baze baphelele abayizinceku kanye nabo nabazalwane babo ababezakubulawa njengabo.” (IsAmbulo 6:11) Singaqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyothatha isinyathelo ngesikhathi sakhe asimisile. Eqinisweni, amazwi omphostoli uPawulu kweyoku-1 Korinte 7:29 afaneleka kakhulu. Wabatshela ngokukhanyayo akholwa kanye nabo: “Isikhathi sesinciphile.”
7 Amazwi kaPawulu awakhuthazi nje kuphela izinceku zikaJehova zanamuhla kodwa futhi abonisa ukuthi ukuphila kwamaKristu kumelwe kugxile emsebenzini ophuthumayo uNkulunkulu awabele wona. Ngendaba efanayo, umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Ukuphela kwezinto zonke sekusondele.” (1 Petru 4:7) UPetru wayazi ukuthi lesisimiso simiselwe ukuphela okusabekayo. Yilapho lapho sibheke khona!
8. Iqiniso lokuthi ukuphela kwalesisimiso kuseduze kumelwe libe namuphi umphumela kubantu bakaJehova?
8 Bobabili uPawulu noPetru bagcizelela iqiniso lokuthi lesisimiso sezinto silahliwe. Lokhu kuyinto amaKristu eqiniso okumelwe angayikhohlwa neze. Ukuphela kuyofika osukwini lwethu, futhi bonke ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi kuseduze kakhulu impela. Ngakho-ke, usuku ngalunye indlela yethu yokuphila kumelwe ibonise lolokholo. Ngokungaphezulu, iqiniso lokuthi sesingene kangaka ezinsukwini zokugcina zalesisimiso kumelwe lisigcwalise ngokuzimisela ukuba senze okusemandleni ethu emsebenzini omuhle nophuthuma kakhulu wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle njengofakazi bakaJehova abacocekile nabashisekayo.—Thithu 2:13, 14.
Singene Shí ‘Esikhathini Sokugcina’
9. Abantu ngokuvamile bamatasa ngani namuhla, futhi ingabe lokhu kwake kwenzeka ngaphambili?
9 UJesu Kristu wabikezela ukuthi phakathi nokuba khona kwakhe okungabonakali abantu babeyoba matasa nezindaba zokuphila. Babeyophazamiseka, njengabantu bosuku lukaNowa nolukaLoti. “Kuyakuba-njalo nasemihleni yeNdodana yomuntu,” kusho uJesu, ebhekisela esikhathini sokuba khona kwakhe okungabonakali, isikhathi okuyokwehliselwa ngaso imbubhiso kulesimiso esibi.—Luka 17:26-30.
10, 11. Ibuphi ubufakazi obuvezwe lapha obubonisa ukuthi ukuphela kwalesimiso kuseduze?
10 Cabangela futhi iziprofetho ezibhalwe kuLuka 24, kuMarku 13 nakuLuka 21. UJesu wabikezela izinto umuntu angenakuziqondisa nakancane—izinto ezinjengezifo nokuzamazama komhlaba okukhulu. Ngokungaphezulu, kuye kwaba ‘nokwanda kokungabi namthetho’ kusukela ngo-1914 C.E. Izindaba zanamuhla, ikakhulukazi emadolobheni amakhulu, ngokuvamile ziwuhide lobulelesi nokonakala kuphela. Kukhona okwengeziwe kulokhu kunokuphakama kwezibalo zobugebengu, ngoba manje kugcwele umoya wokungayinaki imithetho, futhi uthando lwabaningi ngempela luyaphola.—Mathewu 24:12.
11 Ngokungaphezulu, ‘usizi lwezizwe’ manje luyabonakala ngoba abantu baxakekile ngenxa yobunzima obandayo. (Luka 21:25, 26) Khona-ke, futhi, kuye kwaba nokuncipha kwenani lalabo ‘balesizukulwane’ sika-1914 esingenakwedlula ngaphambi kokugcwaliseka kwakho konke lokho uJesu akubikezelela isikhathi sethu. (Mathewu 24:34) Lesi esinye isibonakaliso esikhanyayo sokuthi ukuphela kwalesisimiso kuseduze.
12. Yini ngokungangabazeki ewubufakazi obukhulu bokuthi sisekupheleni ‘kwesikhathi sokugcina’?
12 Kunganikezwa ubufakazi obuningi bokubonisa ukuthi sisekupheleni ‘kwesikhathi sokugcina.’ (Daniyeli 12:4) Kodwa ngokungangabazeki ubufakazi obukhulu kakhulu bokuthi siseduze nokuphela kwalesisimiso buwumsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso emhlabeni wonke owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova. Ayikaze yenzeke into enjena ngaphambili. Ngempela, emazweni angama-205 kuyo yonke imbulunga oFakazi BakaJehova abangaphezu kwezi-2 650 000 bayashiseka ekwenzeni umsebenzi omuhle wokusakaza isigijimi esikhuthazayo sokuthi uKristu ubebusa emandleni oMbuso kusukela ngo-1914. Futhi uJesu wathi uma lezizindaba ezinhle zoMbuso sezishunyayelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe, khona-ke ‘ukuphela kuyofika.’—Mathewu 24:14.
Phila Ngokuvumelana Neseluleko SeBhayibheli
13. Kumelwe siyibheke kanjani inkulumo kaPawulu yokuthi ‘labo abanabafazi mababe-njengabangenabo’?
13 Njengoba isikhathi esisele ngokusobala sesinciphile futhi ukuphela kuseduze, abantu bakaJehova kudingeka baphile ngokuvumelana neseluleko seBhayibheli, njengamazwi omphostoli uPawulu kweyoku-1 Korinte 7:29-31. Ngemva nje kokuthi “isikhathi sesinciphile,” wabhala: “Ngakho emva kwalokhu abanabafazi mababe-njengabangenabo.” Lapha umphostoli wayengasho ukuthi indoda engumKristu kumelwe ingamnaki umkayo. Cha, kodwa nakuba indoda inakekela ngokwethembeka imithwalo yayo yemfanelo yomshado, kumelwe enhliziyweni yayo nasemqondweni ibeke kuqala ubuhlobo bayo noNkulunkulu, iqaphela ukuthi umshado wayo uyanezela kulokhu.
14. Ngokweyoku-1 Korinte 7:30, abamemezeli boMbuso kumelwe bazibheke kanjani izinkinga zomuntu siqu nokunye?
14 Eveseni lama-30, uPawulu waqhubeka wathi: “Nabathokozayo babe-njengabangathokoziyo, nabathengayo babe-njengabangenanto.” Kusho ukuthini lokhu? Lamazwi aphefumlelwe agcizelela iqiniso lokuthi izindaba zomuntu siqu, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zihilela izinto anazo, ukudabuka noma ukujabula, akuzona izinto ezinkulu ngezikhonzi zoMbuso. Sonke ‘sihlangabezana nesikhathi nezimo ezingalindelekile’ futhi ezingase zishintshe izimo zethu ngokuzuma. (UmShumayeli 9:11, NW; Jakobe 4:14) Ngakho kuyoba ubuwula ukunaka kakhulu ukudabuka, ubunzima nezinkinga ezihlukahlukene zomuntu siqu kangangokuba lokhu kukhathalela kuphazamise ngokungathi sina inkonzo yethu, umsebenzi wethu okhethekile wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso.
15. Kungani kungaba ubuphukuphuku obukhulu ngomKristu ukugxila ezindabeni zakhe siqu ezihilela izinto ezibonakalayo nokufanayo?
15 Kweyoku-1 Korinte 7:31, umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Nabasebenzisa lelizwe babe-njengabangalisebenzisi.” Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bezwe bantula ithemba elisekelwe eBhayibhelini, bahileleke kakhulu ekucabangeni ngezidingo zabo zansuku zonke nezifiso. Ngokuvamile bafuna ukukhanga abanye ngezinto ezibonakalayo abanazo. Kodwa, njengoba umphostoli uJohane akukhanyisa, ‘ukuzigabisa ngalokhu-kuphila’ kungesinye sezibonakaliso ‘zazo zonke izinto zasezweni’ ‘ezingaveli kuYise, kodwa ezivela ezweni.’ Futhi uJohane uyasiqinisekisa ukuthi “izwe liyadlula kanye nenkanuko yalo; kepha owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube-phakade.” (1 Johane 2:16, 17) Ngakho-ke, kungaba ubuphukuphuku obukhulu nganoma imuphi umKristu, onethemba lesikhathi esizayo saphakade, ukuba agxile ezintweni zakhe siqu aze angabi naso isikhathi esisele sezithakazelo zoMbuso. (Mathewu 6:25-32; qhathanisa nabaseFilipi 2:19-22; 2 Thimothewu 4:10.) Nakuba kufanelekile ukujabulela izinto ezibonakalayo eziyinzuzo ngisho nokuzijabulisa okuthile okwakhayo, akumelwe neze sivumele lezizinto zibe ngeziyinhloko ekuphileni kwethu.—Luka 12:15.
16. Imuphi umbono nemigomo abantu bezwe ngokuvamile abanayo, kodwa yini okumelwe ibe ngebaluleke ngaphezu kwakho konke ezincekwini zikaJehova?
16 Akukhona okungavamile ngabantu bezwe, noma labo abanesimo esingaqinile ngokomoya, ukuba bakhononde ngabanakho ekuphileni. (Qhathanisa noJuda 16.) Uma begula, bangase ngaso sonke isikhathi bakhononde ngokungaphatheki kahle. Ngokufanayo, nabampofu bangase bakhononde ngokuba mpofu. Phela, izinto ezinjengempilo enhle nomcebo omkhulu zingase zibe yimigomo abayikhathalela ngokuyinhloko ekuphileni kwabo! Balwela ukuyifinyelela, futhi ukungaphumeleli kungase kubaholele ekucindezelekeni okukhulu. Kodwa ngabantu bakaJehova abazinikezele ‘inkonzo engcwele’ ingebaluleke kunakho konke. (Roma 12:1, 2) Kuyiqiniso, nakuba siyizinceku zikaJehova sinezinkinga okumelwe sibhekane nazo. Kodwa lokhu akusenzi sibe ababubulayo, nabakhonondayo ngesibhekene nakho ekuphileni. Sinomsebenzi esiwunikezwe uNkulunkulu ukuba siwenze, futhi ukwenza lomsebenzi obusisiwe kuyinto esemqoka kunakho konke. Ngempela, siyajabula ngoba sibeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala ekuphileni.—Mathewu 6:33.
17. Maqondana neziphazamiso ezingaba khona, yini abantu bakaJehova okumelwe bangayivumeli?
17 Khona-ke, iyiphi inkambo yokuhlakanipha ngezinceku zikaJehova? Nokho, singazisebenzisa izinto ezithile nezinkonzo lelizwe elizinikezayo, kodwa masingalokothi sivumele iziphazamiso zisiphambukise enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. (Luka 21:34-36) Khumbula ukuthi akukho lutho kulesisimiso sezinto oluhlala njalo. Ukushintshashintsha kwaso kungase kube umthombo wesiphazamiso. Yebo, njengoba uPawulu asho, “Isimo salelizwe siyadlula.” (1 Korinte 7:31) Kodwa akumelwe sivumele lokhu kusiphazamise enkonzweni kaJehova.
Yenza Umsebenzi WeNkosi Ngenkuthalo
18. (a) Njengoba ‘besisesikhathini sokugcina’ kusukela ngo-1914, ukuphila kwethu kumelwe kugxile kumuphi umsebenzi? (b) Uma sihlala simatasa emsebenzini weNkosi, yini engenzeka ezinkingeni zokuphila?
18 Ngokuba nokuqina okungokomoya, sibona ubufakazi obuningi bokuthi ‘besisesikhathini sokugcina’ kusukela ngo-1914. Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile asifuni ukusebenzisa izwe ngokugcwele njengokungathi kukhona okuyosilahlekela uma singenzanga kanjalo. Kunalokho, masigxilise ukuphila kwethu ‘emsebenzini weNkosi.’ Simelwe ‘sivame emsebenzini weNkosi, sazi ukuthi ukusebenza kwethu akusilo ize eNkosini.’ (1 Korinte 15:58) Ngakho gxila ekushumayeleni nasekufundiseni ngamaqiniso oMbuso. Khona-ke yini engase yenzeke ezinkingeni zokuphila? Phela, kuyoba sengathi ziyanyamalala futhi zingabi ngezibalulekile, zingabi ngezikhathaza kakhulu!
19. Kusho ukuthini ‘ukukhuthazela kuze kube-sekupheleni’?
19 Lapho enikeza isiprofetho sakhe esikhulu maqondana nezinsuku zokugcina zalesisimiso, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi “niyakuzondwa yibo bonke” ngenxa yegama lami. “Kodwa,” wanezela, “okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.” (Marku 13:10-13) Ngathi ngabanye esizinikezele kuJehova, ‘ukuphela’ kungase kusho ‘ukuphela kwezwe’ noma ukufa kwethu siqu, mhlawumbe ngemva kokuhlushwa abashushisi. (Mathewu 24:3) Kunoma isiphi isimo, sinesikhathi esilinganiselwe sokwenza umsebenzi weNkosi. Ngakho-ke, ingabe akumelwe sikhuthale futhi sishiseke ekumemezeleni isigijimi soMbuso? Ngokungangabazeki, kumelwe kube njalo!
Sekuyisikhathi Sokuthatha Isinyathelo!
20. AmaIsrayeli ayekhululwe ebugqilini baseBabiloni akwazi kanjani ukubonisa ukukhathalela kwawo ngokukhulekela uJehova?
20 Lapho abathunjwa abangamaJuda bekhululwa ebugqilini baseBabiloni ekhulwini lesithupha B.C.E., kwakumelwe benze isinqumo. Ingabe babeyobuyela ezweni lakubo bamise futhi ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova lapho, noma babeyohlala eBabiloni? AmaIsrayeli ayehlala kulowomuzi kwakungasho ukuthi ayonakele, ngoba uDaniyeli owayesekhulile wayengomunye wawo. Ayengase asekele insali ebuyayo ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo nangokunye futhi ayengathumela kanye nayo ‘umnikelo wesihle’ wendlu kaJehova eJerusalema. (Ezra 1:2-4) Kanjalo ayengasiza ekuphakamiseni ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba bajabula kanjani bonke abakhulekeli bakaJehova njengoba insali yayiphikelele ezweni lakubo, iphethe izitsha ezingcwele ezazisetshenziswa ethempelini likaJehova! Futhi abaphathi bezinto zendawo engcwele kwakumelwe baqiniseke ukuthi babezihlanzile kukho konke ukungcola kwaseBabiloni okungokwenkolo nokungokokuziphatha ababengaba nakho.—Isaya 52:11.
21. (a) Imiphi imibuzo enikeziwe ukuba siyicabangele? (b) Njengoba “isikhathi sesinciphile,” yini okumelwe yenziwe ngamathuba okusakaza izindaba ezinhle?
21 Ingabe ukukhulekela kweqiniso ukukhathalela njengalawomaIsrayeli akhululiwe ayephila emakhulwini angama-25 eminyaka adlule? Ingabe ukubheka njengelungelo elijabulisayo ukwenza inkonzo engcwele kuJehova njengengxenye yenhlangano ehlanzekile neshisekayo edumisa igama lakhe elingcwele? Ungakwazi ukubona ubufakazi obuningi bokuthi siphila ekupheleni ‘kwesikhathi sokugcina’? Uma uphendula ngoyebo kulemibuzo, khona-ke qiniseka ukuthi uthatha isinyathelo esiqondile manje. Gxila ekubekeni izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala ekuphileni kwakho. Njengoba “isikhathi sesinciphile,” amathuba esinawo manje okusakaza izindaba ezinhle abaluleke ngokwengeziwe. Babusisiwe bonke abagxilisa ukuphila kwabo eMbusweni njengofakazi abathembekile bakaJehova futhi bevama ekushumayeleni izindaba ezinhle lapho kusenesikhathi!
Ungaphendula Ngokuthini?
□ Kungani isikhathi sisiphelela lesisimiso sezinto?
□ Sazi kanjani ukuthi sesisekupheleni ‘kwesikhathi sokugcina’?
□ Uma sihlala simatasa emsebenzini weNkosi, yini engenzeka ezinkingeni zethu?
□ Njengoba ukuphela kuseduze, ukuphila kwethu kumelwe kugxile kuphi?
[Isithombe ekhasini 21]
Sengathi izinkinga zokuphila zingesiphazamise emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso