Sonke Kumelwe Silandise KuNkulunkulu
“Ngamunye wethu uyozilandisela kuNkulunkulu.”—ROMA 14:12.
1. Yimiphi imingcele eyabekwa enkululekweni ka-Adamu no-Eva?
UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU wadala abazali bethu bokuqala, u-Adamu no-Eva, benenkululeko yokuzikhethela. Nakuba babephansi kunezingelosi, babeyizidalwa ezihlakaniphile ezikwaziyo ukwenza izinqumo ezihlakaniphile. (IHubo 8:4, 5) Nokho, leyo nkululeko ababeyinikezwe uNkulunkulu yayingeyona imvume yokuzinqumela okuhle nokubi. Babenesibopho sokulandisa kuMdali wabo, futhi lokhu kulandisa kuye kwadlulela kuyo yonke inzalo yabo.
2. UJehova uzokwenza kube nakuphi ukulandisa maduze nje, futhi ngani?
2 Manje njengoba sesisondele ekupheleni kwalesi simiso sezinto esibi, uJehova uyokwenza kube nokulandisa emhlabeni. (Qhathanisa neyabaseRoma 9:28.) Maduze nje, abantu abangenakho ukwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuyomelwe balandise kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuphanga ingcebo yomhlaba, ukubhubhisa ukuphila kwabantu, futhi ikakhulukazi ukushushisa izinceku zakhe.—IsAmbulo 6:10; 11:18.
3. Yimiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?
3 Njengoba sibhekene nalesi sikhathi esisangulukisayo, kuyinzuzo ukuba sixoxe ngokusebenzelana kukaJehova ngokulunga nezidalwa zakhe ezikhathini ezidlule. ImiBhalo ingasisiza kanjani thina ukuba sizenzele umlando owamukelekayo kuMdali wethu? Yiziphi izibonelo ezingase zisisize, futhi yiziphi okufanele sigweme ukuzilingisa?
Izingelosi Zinesibopho Sokulandisa
4. Sazi kanjani ukuthi izingelosi zinesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu ngezenzo zazo?
4 Izidalwa zikaJehova eziyizingelosi emazulwini zinesibopho sokulandisa kuye njengathi. Ngaphambi kukaZamcolo wosuku lukaNowa, ezinye izingelosi ngokungalaleli zaziguqula abantu ukuze zibe nobuhlobo bobulili nabesifazane. Njengoba zazinenkululeko yokuzikhethela, lezi zidalwa zomoya zazingasenza lesi sinqumo, kodwa uNkulunkulu wazibheka njengezinesibopho sokulandisa. Lapho lezi zingelosi ezingalaleli zibuyela endaweni yomoya, uJehova akazange azivumele ukuba zibuyele esikhundleni sazo sokuqala. Umfundi uJude usitshela ukuthi ‘zigcinwe ngezibopho ezingunaphakade ngaphansi kwesigayegaye, uzigcinele ukwahlulelwa kosuku olukhulu.’—Jude 6.
5. USathane namademoni akhe babhekana nakuphi ukuwa, futhi ukulandisa ngenxa yokuhlubuka kwabo kuyophothulwa kanjani?
5 Lezi zingelosi ezingalaleli, noma amademoni, zibuswa uSathane uDeveli. (Mathewu 12:24-26) Lengelosi embi yahlubuka kuMdali wayo futhi yabekela ukufaneleka kobukhosi bukaJehova inselele. USathane waholela abazali bethu bokuqala esonweni, futhi lokhu kwaphumela ekubeni bafe ekugcineni. (Genesise 3:1-7, 17-19) Nakuba uJehova amvumela uSathane ukuba angene emagcekeni asezulwini isikhathi esithile ngemva kwalokho, incwadi yeBhayibheli yesAmbulo yabikezela ukuthi ngesikhathi sikaNkulunkulu esifanele, lona omubi wayeyolahlelwa phansi emhlabeni. Ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka ngemva nje kokuba uJesu Kristu amukele amandla oMbuso ngo-1914. Ekugcineni, uDeveli namademoni akhe bayobhujiswa phakade. Lapho impikiswano yobukhosi isixazululiwe ekugcineni, ukulandisa ngenxa yokuhlubuka kuyobe sekuphothulwe ngendlela efanele.—Jobe 1:6-12; 2:1-7; IsAmbulo 12:7-9; 20:10.
INdodana KaNkulunkulu Inesibopho Sokulandisa
6. UJesu ukubheka kanjani ukuba kwakhe nesibopho sokulandisa kuYise?
6 Yeka isibonelo esihle esiye sabekwa iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu! Njengomuntu ophelele olingana no-Adamu, uJesu wayekujabulela ukwenza intando yaphezulu. Futhi wayekujabulela ukuba nesibopho sokulandisa mayelana nokulalela umthetho kaJehova. Ngaye, umhubi waprofetha ngokufanele: “Ngiyathanda ukwenza intando yakho, Nkulunkulu wami, nomthetho wakho usenhliziyweni yami.”—IHubo 40:8; Heberu 10:6-9.
7. Lapho ethandaza ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe, kungani uJesu ayengasho amazwi alotshwe kuJohane 17:4, 5?
7 Naphezu kokuphikiswa kwenzondo uJesu abhekana nakho, wenza intando kaNkulunkulu futhi walondoloza ubuqotho kwaze kwaba sekufeni esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Ngaleyo ndlela wakhokha inani lesihlengo ukuze akhulule isintu emiphumeleni ebulalayo yesono sika-Adamu. (Mathewu 20:28) Ngakho, ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe, uJesu wayengathandaza ngokuqiniseka: “Ngikukhazimulisile emhlabeni, njengoba ngiwuqedile umsebenzi onginike wona ukuba ngiwenze. Ngakho manje wena, Baba, ngikhazimulise eceleni kwakho ngenkazimulo enganginayo eceleni kwakho ngaphambi kokuba izwe libe khona.” (Johane 17:4, 5) UJesu wayengawasho lawo mazwi kuYise wasezulwini ngoba wayebhekana ngokuphumelelayo novivinyo lokulandisa futhi wayemukeleka kuNkulunkulu.
8. (a) UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi sinesibopho sokulandisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu? (b) Yini eyosisiza ukuba samukeleke kuNkulunkulu?
8 Ngokungafani nomuntu ophelele uJesu Kristu, thina asiphelele. Noma kunjalo, sinesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Kungani wahlulela umfowenu? Noma kungani futhi ubukela phansi umfowenu? Ngoba sonke siyokuma phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sikaNkulunkulu; ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: ‘“Kuphila kwami,” kusho uJehova, “wonke amadolo ayoguqa kimi, nazo zonke izindimi ziyokwenza ukuvuma kwasobala kuNkulunkulu.”’ Ngakho-ke, ngamunye wethu uyozilandisela kuNkulunkulu.” (Roma 14:10-12) Ukuze senze kanjalo futhi samukeleke kuJehova, ngothando uye wasinikeza kokubili unembeza neZwi lakhe eliphefumulelwe, iBhayibheli, ukuze kusiqondise kwesikushoyo nesikwenzayo. (Roma 2:14, 15; 2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) Ukusebenzisa ngokugcwele amalungiselelo kaJehova angokomoya nokulalela unembeza wethu oqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli kuyosisiza ukuba samukeleke kuNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Umoya kaJehova ongcwele, noma amandla asebenzayo, ungomunye umthombo wamandla nesiqondiso. Uma senza ngokuvumelana nokuqondisa komoya nokukanembeza wethu oqeqeshwe ngeBhayibheli, sibonisa ukuthi asibona ‘abangamnaki uNkulunkulu,’ okumelwe silandise kuye ngazo zonke izenzo zethu.—1 Thesalonika 4:3-8; 1 Petru 3:16, 21.
Isibopho Sokulandisa Njengezizwe
9. Babengobani abakwa-Edomi, futhi kwenzekani kubo ngenxa yendlela abaphatha ngayo u-Israyeli?
9 UJehova ubheka izizwe njengezinesibopho sokulandisa. (Jeremiya 25:12-14; Zefaniya 3:6, 7, qhathanisa ne-NW.) Cabangela umbuso wasendulo wakwa-Edomi, owawuseningizimu yoLwandle Olufile ngasenyakatho yeGulf of Aqaba. Abakwa-Edomi babengabantu abangamaSemite, beyizihlobo eziseduze zama-Israyeli. Nakuba ukhokho wabakwa-Edomi kwakungumzukulu ka-Abrahama u-Esawu, ama-Israyeli enqatshelwa ukudabula i-Edomi “ngomgwaqo wenkosi” lapho eya eZweni Lesithembiso. (Numeri 20:14-21) Emakhulwini eminyaka ubutha bakwa-Edomi bakhula baba inzondo enonya ngo-Israyeli. Ekugcineni, abakwa-Edomi kwadingeka balandise ngenxa yokukhuthaza kwabo abaseBabiloni ukuba babhubhise iJerusalema ngo-607 B.C.E. (IHubo 137:7) Ngekhulu lesithupha B.C.E., amabutho aseBabiloni ngaphansi kweNkosi uNabonidasi anqoba i-Edomi, futhi laba incithakalo, njengoba uJehova ayememezele.—Jeremiya 49:20; Obadiya 9-11.
10. Yini abakwaMowabi abayenza kuma-Israyeli, futhi uNkulunkulu wabenza kanjani abakwaMowabi balandisa?
10 NabakwaMowabi babhekana nokufanayo. Umbuso wakwaMowabi wawusenyakatho ye-Edomi ngasempumalanga yoLwandle Olufile. Ngaphambi kokuba ama-Israyeli angene eZweni Lesithembiso, abakwaMowabi abazange bawabonise umoya wokungenisa izihambi, ngokusobala bewanikeza isinkwa namanzi ukuze nje bazuze ingcebo. (Duteronomi 23:3, 4) INkosi yakwaMowabi uBalaki, yaqasha umprofethi uBileyamu ukuba aqalekise u-Israyeli, futhi abesifazane bakwaMowabi basetshenziswa ukuba bayengele abesilisa bakwa-Israyeli ekuziphatheni okubi nasekukhonzeni izithombe. (Numeri 22:2-8; 25:1-9) Nokho, uJehova akazange ayishalazele inzondo yabakwaMowabi ngama-Israyeli. Njengoba kwakuprofethiwe, abakwaMowabi bachithwa ngabaseBabiloni. (Jeremiya 9:25, 26; Zefaniya 2:8-11) Yebo, uNkulunkulu wenza abakwaMowabi balandisa.
11. AbakwaMowabi nabakwa-Amoni baba njengamiphi imizi, futhi iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zibonisani ngesimiso sezinto esibi samanje?
11 Akubona abakwaMowabi kuphela okwadingeka balandise kuNkulunkulu kodwa nabakwa-Amoni. UJehova wayebikezele: “UMowabi uyakuba-njengeSodoma, nabantwana bakwa-Amoni njengeGomora, izwe lezimbabazane nelemigodi kasawoti nencithakalo yaphakade.” (Zefaniya 2:9) Izwe lakwaMowabi nelakwa-Amoni acekelwa phansi, njengoba uNkulunkulu ayebhubhise imizi yaseSodoma neGomora. Ngokwe-Geological Society of London, abacwaningi bathi baye bawabona amanxiwa eSodoma neGomora ogwini olusempumalanga yoLwandle Olufile. Noma yibuphi ubufakazi obunokwethenjelwa okungenzeka busazotholakala ngalendaba buyomane nje busekele iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ezibonisa ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu uyokwenza isimiso sezinto esibi samanje silandise.—2 Petru 3:6-12.
12. Nakuba u-Israyeli ayenesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yezono zakhe, yini eyayibikezelwe ngensali yamaJuda?
12 Nakuba u-Israyeli ayeyintandokazi kuJehova, kwadingeka alandise kuNkulunkulu ngezono zakhe. Lapho uJesu Kristu efika esizweni sakwa-Israyeli, iningi lamenqaba. Insali kuphela eyabonisa ukholo futhi yaba abalandeli bakhe. UPawulu wasebenzisa iziprofetho ezithile kulensali yamaJuda lapho ebhala: “U-Isaya uyakhamuluka ngokuphathelene no-Israyeli uthi: ‘Nakuba isibalo samadodana ka-Israyeli singaba ngangesihlabathi solwandle, insali eyosindiswa. Ngoba uJehova uyokwenza kube nokulandisa emhlabeni, ekuphetha futhi ekufushanisa.’ Futhi, njengoba nje u-Isaya ayeshilo esikhathini esingaphambili: ‘Ngaphandle kokuba uJehova wamabutho asishiyele imbewu, ngabe saba nje njengeSodoma, futhi ngabe senziwa saba nje njengeGomora.’” (Roma 9:27-29; Isaya 1:9; 10:22, 23) Lomphostoli wacaphuna isibonelo sabangu-7 000 osukwini luka-Eliya abangazange bamkhothamele uBali, wabe esethi: “Ngakho-ke, ngalendlela, kuye kwavela kulenkathi yamanje insali ngokokukhetha okungenxa yomusa ongafanelwe.” (Roma 11:5) Leyo nsali yayakhiwa abantu ababenesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu ngokomuntu siqu.
Izibonelo Zokulandisa Ngokomuntu Siqu
13. Yini eyenzeka kuKayini lapho kudingeka alandise kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yokubulala umfowabo u-Abela?
13 IBhayibheli libhekisela ezibonelweni eziningi zokulandisa kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngokomuntu siqu. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela izibulo lika-Adamu, uKayini. Yena nomfowabo u-Abela benza umhlatshelo kuJehova. Umhlatshelo ka-Abela wamukeleka kuNkulunkulu, kodwa okaKayini awamukelekanga. Lapho kudingeka alandise ngenxa yokubulala umfowabo ngesihluku, engathintekile, uKayini watshela uNkulunkulu: “Ngingumlindi womfowethu na?” Ngenxa yesono sakhe, uKayini wadingiselwa “ezweni laseNodi ngasempumalanga kwase-Edene.” Akazange abonise ukuphenduka okuqotho ngecala lakhe, okwamdabukisa isijeziso esasimfanele nje kuphela.—Genesise 4:3-16.
14. Ukulandisa ngokomuntu siqu kuNkulunkulu kwaboniswa kanjani endabeni yompristi omkhulu u-Eli namadodana akhe?
14 Isibopho somuntu sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu ngokomuntu siqu siboniswe nasendabeni yompristi omkhulu ka-Israyeli u-Eli. Amadodana akhe, uHofini noFinehasi, ayekhonza njengabapristi abengamele kodwa ‘ayenecala lokungabi nabulungisa kubantu, nelokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu, futhi kungekho hlobo lobubi ayengalwenzi,’ kusho isazi-mlando uJosephus. ‘Labantu ababi’ abazange bamqaphele uJehova, bahileleka ekuziphatheni okungcolile, futhi baba necala lokuziphatha okubi ngokungathi sína. (1 Samuweli 1:3; 2:12-17, 22-25) Njengoyise nompristi omkhulu ka-Israyeli, u-Eli wayenomthwalo wemfanelo wokubajezisa, kodwa wamane wabakhuza kalula. U-Eli ‘wadumisa amadodana akhe ngaphezu kukaJehova.’ (1 Samuweli 2:29) Indlu ka-Eli yajeziswa. Womabili lamadodana afa ngalusuku lunye noyise, futhi uhlu lwabo lobupristi ekugcineni lwashabalala ngokuphelele. Kanjalo ukulandisa kwaphothulwa.—1 Samuweli 3:13, 14; 4:11, 17, 18.
15. Kungani indodana yeNkosi uSawule, uJonathani, yavuzwa?
15 Isibonelo esihluke ngokuphelele sabekwa indodana yeNkosi uSawule, uJonathani. Ngemva nje kokuba uDavide ebulele uGoliyati, “inhliziyo kaJonathani yanamathela enhliziyweni kaDavide,” futhi benza isivumelwano sobungane. (1 Samuweli 18:1, 3) Kungenzeka ukuthi uJonathani wayephawula ukuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu wawusukile kuSawule, kodwa intshiseko yakhe ngokukhulekela kweqiniso ayizange inciphe. (1 Samuweli 16:14) Ukwazisa kukaJonathani igunya likaDavide ayelinikezwe uNkulunkulu akuzange kuntengantenge. UJonathani waqaphela isibopho sakhe sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu, futhi uJehova wamvuza ngenkambo yakhe enhle ngokuqinisekisa ukuthi uhlu lomkhaya wakhe luyaqhubeka izizukulwane eziningi.—1 IziKronike 8:33-40.
Ukuzenzela Umlando Ebandleni LobuKristu
16. Wayengubani uThithu, futhi kungani kungase kuthiwe wazenzela umlando omuhle kuNkulunkulu?
16 ImiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki ikhuluma kahle ngabesilisa nabesifazane abaningi abazenzela umlando omuhle. Ngokwesibonelo, kwakunomKristu ongumGreki okuthiwa uThithu. Kuye kwasikiselwa ukuthi waba umKristu ohambweni lukaPawulu lokuqala lwezithunywa zevangeli lwaseKhupro. Njengoba kungenzeka ukuthi amaJuda namaproselithe aseKhupro ayeseJerusalema ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., kungenzeka ukuthi ubuKristu bafinyelela kulesi siqhingi ngemva nje kwalokho. (IzEnzo 11:19) Noma kunjalo, uThithu wazibonakalisa engesinye sezisebenzi ezikanye noPawulu ezikholekile. Wahamba noPawulu noBarnaba lapho beya eJerusalema cishe ngo-49 C.E., ngenkathi kuxazululwa indaba ebalulekile yokusoka. Iqiniso lokuthi uThithu wayengasokile lenza laba nesisindo iphuzu likaPawulu lokuthi abaguqukele ebuKristwini akufanele babe ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose. (Galathiya 2:1-3) Inkonzo enhle kaThithu ifakazelwe emiBhalweni, futhi uPawulu waze wambhalela ngisho nencwadi ephefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu. (2 Korinte 7:6; Thithu 1:1-4) Ngokusobala uThithu waqhubeka ezenzela umlando omuhle kuNkulunkulu kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kwenkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni.
17. Yimuphi umlando uThimothewu azenzela wona, futhi lesi sibonelo singasithinta kanjani?
17 UThimothewu wayengomunye umuntu oshisekayo owazenzela umlando owamukelekayo kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Nakuba uThimothewu ayenezinkinga ezithile zempilo, wabonisa ‘ukholo olungenabo noma ibuphi ubuzenzisi’ futhi ‘waba isigqila kanye noPawulu ekuqhutshekiselweni phambili kwezindaba ezinhle.’ Ngakho-ke lomphostoli wayengatshela amaKristu akanye nawo eFilipi: “Anginaye omunye onesimo [esinjengesikaThimothewu] oyozinakekela ngobuqotho izinto eziphathelene nani.” (2 Thimothewu 1:5; Filipi 2:20, 22; 1 Thimothewu 5:23) Lapho sibhekene nobuthakathaka bobuntu nokunye ukuvivinywa, nathi singaba nokholo olungenabuzenzisi futhi singazenzela umlando owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu.
18. Wayengubani uLidiya, futhi wabonisa umoya onjani?
18 ULidiya wayengowesifazane onokwesaba kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ngokusobala owazenzela umlando omuhle kuNkulunkulu. Yena nendlu yakhe babephakathi kwabantu bokuqala eYurophu abamukela ubuKristu ngenxa yomsebenzi kaPawulu eFilipi cishe ngo-50 C.E. Njengoba ayedabuka eThiyathira, kungenzeka ukuthi uLidiya wayengumJuda ongumproselithe, kodwa kungenzeka ukuthi ayembalwa amaJuda eFilipi futhi engekho amasinagoge. Yena nabanye besifazane abazinikele babehlangene ngasemfuleni lapho uPawulu ekhuluma nabo. Umphumela waba ukuthi uLidiya abe umKristu futhi wacindezela uPawulu nabangane bakhe ukuba bahlale naye. (IzEnzo 16:12-15) Umoya wokungenisa izihambi owaboniswa uLidiya usalokhu uyisici esiphawula amaKristu eqiniso.
19. UDorka wazenzela umlando omuhle kuNkulunkulu ngokwenza ziphi izenzo ezinhle?
19 UDorka wayengomunye wesifazane owazenzela umlando omuhle kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Lapho efa, uPetru waya eJopha ngenxa yesicelo sabafundi abahlala lapho. Amadoda amabili ahlangabeza uPetru “amholela ekamelweni eliphezulu; futhi baziletha kuye bonke abafelokazi bekhala futhi bebonisa izingubo eziningi zangaphakathi nezingubo zangaphandle uDorka ayezenza lapho esenabo.” UDorka wabuyiselwa ekuphileni. Kodwa ingabe kufanele akhunjulwe ngenxa yomoya wakhe wokupha kuphela? Cha. ‘Wayengumfundi’ futhi ngokuqinisekile naye wayehlanganyela emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi. Namuhla ngokufanayo abesifazane abangamaKristu ‘bavamile ezenzweni ezinhle naseziphweni zesihe.’ Nabo bayakujabulela ukuhlanganyela ngentshiseko ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nokwenza abafundi.—IzEnzo 9:36-42; Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.
20. Yimiphi imibuzo esingase sizibuze yona?
20 IBhayibheli libonisa ngokucacile ukuthi izizwe nabantu ngabanye kumelwe bazenzele umlando eNkosini enguMbusi uJehova. (Zefaniya 1:7) Ngakho-ke, uma sizinikezele kuNkulunkulu, singase sizibuze, ‘Ngiwabheka kanjani amalungelo ami nemithwalo yemfanelo engiyinikezwe uNkulunkulu? Luhlobo luni lomlando engizenzela wona kuJehova uNkulunkulu nakuJesu Kristu?’
Zithini Izimpendulo Zakho?
◻ Ungakubonisa kanjani ukuthi izingelosi neNdodana kaNkulunkulu banesibopho sokulandisa kuJehova?
◻ Kunaziphi izibonelo zeBhayibheli ezibonisa ukuthi izizwe zinesibopho sokulandisa kuNkulunkulu?
◻ IBhayibheli lithini ngokulandisa komuntu siqu kuNkulunkulu?
◻ Obani abanye abantu emlandweni weBhayibheli abazenzela umlando omuhle kuJehova uNkulunkulu?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
UJesu Kristu wazenzela umlando omuhle kuYise wasezulwini
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
NjengoDorka, namuhla abesifazane abangamaKristu bazenzela umlando omuhle kuJehova uNkulunkulu
[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 13]
The Death of Abel/The Doré Bible Illustrations/Dover Publications, Inc.