1, 2. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso esasindisa impilo zabantu abanengi? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu balasiphi isiqondiso esingasindisa ukuphila kwabo?

“MANA, UKHANGELE, ULALELE.” Amazwi la asindisa izimpilo zabantu abanengi. Eminyakeni edlula 100 eyadlulayo kwakulamabhakane amakhulu alamazwi la ayefakwe lapho okuphambana khona injanji lemigwaqo yezimota e-America. Ayefakelweni amabhakane la? Ukuze abatshayeli bezimota bangachaphi injanji ngesikhathi esingayisiso besebengqikilwa yizitimela ezidlulayo. Ukulalela isixwayiso lesi kwasindisa impilo zabantu abanengi.

² UJehova wenze okungcono kakhulu kulokufaka amabhakane alezixwayiso. Yena kufanana lokuthi uphambi kwabantu bakhe ebaqondisa endleleni eya ekuphileni okungapheliyo futhi ebavikela lasezingozini. UJehova wenza njengomalusi olothando, oqondisa izimvu zakhe endleleni eyiyo njalo ezixwayisa ukuthi zingaqondi emafusini alezimpisi.—Bala u-Isaya 30:20, 21.

3. Kuyini okwenza abantu bangena endleleni eyingozi eya ekufeni?

³ UJehova ubenika abantu bakhe iziqondiso ezicacileyo kusukela kudala. Ngokwesibonelo esivandeni sase-Edeni, uJehova wanika abantu bokuqala imilayo ecacileyo eyayizabanceda ukuthi baphile phakade bethokoza. (Gen. 2:15-17) Aluba u-Adamu lo-Eva balalela isiqondiso sikaNkulunkulu babengasoze baphile impilo egcwele usizi lokufa. Kulokuthi alalele uNkulunkulu, u-Eva walalela inyoka. U-Adamu yena walalela ilizwi lomkakhe. Bobabili bafulathela isiqondiso sikaBaba wabo olothando basebelahlekelwa lithemba lokuphila phakade. Lokhu kwangenisa abantu bonke endleleni eyingozi eya ekufeni.

4. (a) Kungani kwaba lezinye iziqondiso ngemva kukaZamcolo? (b) Umlayo owaphiwa uNowa usifundisani ngoNkulunkulu?

⁴ Ngesikhathi sikaNowa uNkulunkulu waphinda wanika abantu iziqondiso ezazizabanceda ukuthi basinde lapho kufika uZamcolo. UZamcolo esephelile uJehova wabanika umlayo ocacileyo omayelana legazi. Kungani wabanika umlayo lo? Ngoba izinto zasezintshintshile. UJehova wayesezanika abantu imvumo yokuthi badle inyama. Yikho kwasekudingakala iziqondiso ezintsha. Wabatshela wathi: “Inyama okukuyo ukuphila, okutsho igazi, kalisoze liyidle.” (Gen. 9:1-4, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Umlayo lo usifundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uthini ngokuphila. UNkulunkulu ulelungelo lokusinika imilayo mayelana lokuphila ngoba unguMdali futhi nguye osinika ukuphila. Ngokwesibonelo wakhipha umlayo wokuthi akumelanga umuntu abulale omunye umuntu. Ukuphila legazi yizinto ezingcwele kuNkulunkulu, yikho uzabajezisa bonke abangakuqakathekisiyo kokubili lokhu.—Gen. 9:5, 6.

5. Kuyini esizakuhlola, futhi kuzasinceda ngani?

⁵ Kasihloleni ezinye izibonelo ezilutshwana ezitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu waqhubeka njani enika abantu iziqondiso. Lokhu kuzasikhuthaza ukuthi sizimisele ukulalela iziqondiso zikaJehova ezizasinceda ukuthi singene emhlabeni omutsha.

6. Kungani abantu bakaNkulunkulu kwakumele balalele imithetho ababeyinikwa nguMosi, njalo ukuyilalela kwakubasiza ngani?

⁶ Ngesikhathi sikaMosi kwasekudingakala iziqondiso ezicacileyo ezaziphathelane lendlela yokukhonza leyokuziphatha. Kungani zazidingakala? Kwasekuphinde kwaba lontshintsho. Kwasekuleminyaka edlula 200 ama-Israyeli eyizigqili eGibhithe lapho okwakulabantu ababekhonza abafileyo, izithombe njalo besenza lemikhuba ezondwa nguNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke lapho abantu bakaNkulunkulu sebekhululiwe eGibhithe basebedinga iziqondiso ezintsha. Basebezakuba yisizwe esilandela iMithetho kaJehova kuphela. Amanye amabhuku athi ibala lesiHebheru elithi “umthetho” lilomqondo wokunika “isiqondiso, ukukhokhela lokufundisa.” UMthetho kaMosi waba njengomduli ovikela ama-Israyeli ekuziphatheni okubi lasekukhonzeni kwamanga okwakusenziwa ngezinye izizwe. Ama-Israyeli ayethola isibusiso nxa ayelalela uNkulunkulu. Kodwa nxa ayengamlaleli, isiqalekiso sasisiba phezu kwawo.—Bala uDutheronomi 28:1, 2, 15.

7. (a) Chaza ukuthi kungani uJehova wanika abantu bakhe iziqondiso ezintsha. (b) Kuyini okunye uMthetho owawasiza ngakho ama-Israyeli?

⁷ Yisiphi esinye isizatho esenza kwadingakala iziqondiso ezintsha? UMthetho lo wawuzanceda abako-Israyeli ukuthi balungiselele isenzakalo esiqakathekileyo enjongweni kaJehova. Isenzakalo lesi kwakuyikufika kukaMesiya. UMthetho lo wawukhumbuza abako-Israyeli ukuthi bayizoni. Wabanceda lokuthi bakuzwisise ukuthi babeyidinga inhlawulo eyayizasusa  izono zabo ngokupheleleyo. (Gal. 3:19; Heb. 10:1-10) Okunye njalo yikuthi uMthetho wasiza ukuthi kulondolozwe usendo lwabantu okwakuzavela kubo uMesiya lokuthi bamazi nxa esefikile. Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi okwesikhathi esithile uMthetho yiwo owawuqondisa abako-Israyeli ubaholela kuKhristu.—Gal. 3:23, 24.

8. Kungani kumele silalele izimiso eziseMthethweni kaMosi?

⁸ Iziqondiso ezaziseMthethweni owanikwa isizwe sako-Israyeli zingasisiza lathi lamuhla. Singenzani ukuze zisisize? Kumele sime njalo sikhangele izimiso ezimunyethwe eMthethweni lo. Lanxa singasekho ngaphansi komthetho lo, izimiso ezikuwo zingasiqondisa ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke lasekukhonzeni uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ongcwele. UNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi imithetho le ilotshwe eBhayibhilini ukuze sifunde ezimisweni ezikuyo, zisiqondise njalo zisisize ukuthi siziphathe ngendlela emthokozisayo. Lalela ukuthi uJesu wathini: “Selezwa ukuthi kwathiwa, ‘Ungaphingi.’ Kodwa ngilitshela ukuthi lowo okhangela owesifazana amfise usephinge laye enhliziyweni yakhe.” Ngakho-ke akumelanga sibalekele ukuphinga kuphela kodwa kumele silahle imicabango lezifiso zokufuna ukuphinga.—Mat. 5:27, 28.

9. Yiluphi untshintsho olwenza ukuthi uNkulunkulu akhuphe iziqondiso ezintsha?

⁹ UMesiya esefikile, uJehova wakhupha iziqondiso ezintsha njalo waveza lokunye okunengi mayelana lenjongo yakhe. Ngenxa yani? Ngoba ngaleso sikhathi izinto zasezintshintshile futhi. Ngo-33 C.E., uJehova walahla isizwe sako-Israyeli wasebumba ibandla elitsha lobuKhristu.

10. Kungani ibandla lobuKhristu laphiwa iziqondiso ezintsha, njalo zazitshiyene njani lalezo ezaphiwa ama-Israyeli?

¹⁰ Ngekhulu lokuqala, abantu ababesebandleni elitsha banikwa iziqondiso ezintsha ezazizabasiza ekukhonzeni lasekuphileni kwansuku zonke. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu lezi ezazikhuthele zasezingene esivumelwaneni esitsha. Kuqala uMthetho kaMosi wawuphiwe abantwana bako-Israyeli kuphela. Kodwa ibandla lobuKhristu lona lalizabunjwa ngabantu abavela ezizweni zonke futhi abakhuluma izindimi ezitshiyeneyo. Kuyacaca-ke ukuthi “uNkulunkulu kathandi abanye kulabanye abantu kodwa wamukela abantu benhlanga zonke abamesabayo, abenza okulungileyo.” (ImiSeb. 10:34, 35) Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli sebeseLizweni Lesithembiso babelandela uMthetho kaMosi owawulotshwe ezicecedwini zamatshe. Kodwa labo ababebumba ibandla lobuKhristu bona babelandela “umthetho kaKhristu” owawusekelwe ezimisweni ezazilotshwe ezinhliziyweni. “Umthetho kaKhristu” wawuzabaqondisa futhi ubancede kungelani lokuthi babehlala ngaphi.—Gal. 6:2.

11. Kukuziphi izinto ezimbili amaKhristu okumele alandele khona “umthetho kaKhristu?”

¹¹ AmaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayezasizakala kakhulu ngokulandela isiqondiso uNkulunkulu ayewanika sona esebenzisa uJesu. Kwathi isivumelwano esitsha singakaqalisi ukusebenza uJesu wanika abalandeli bakhe imilayo emibili eqakathekileyo. Owakuqala wawuphathelane lomsebenzi wokutshumayela. Owesibili wawumayelana lendlela amaKhristu okwakumele aphile ngayo kanye lendlela okwakumele aphathe ngayo abanye. Imilayo le iyasebenza kuwo wonke amaKhristu lamuhla kungelani lokuthi alethemba lokuphila emhlabeni kumbe elokuyaphila ezulwini.

12. Kuyini okwakukutsha ngomsebenzi wokutshumayela?

¹² Ake sixoxe ngomlayo wokuqala. UJesu wanika abalandeli bakhe iziqondiso ezintsha zokuthi batshumayele njani lokuthi batshumayele ngaphi. Okwakujayelekile endulo yikuthi abantu bezinye izizwe kwakumele bamanyane lesizwe sako-Israyeli ukuze bakhonze uJehova.  (1 AmaKho. 8:41-43) Kodwa izinto zasezintshintshile, kwasekumele abantu batshunyayezwe. (Bala uMathewu 28:19, 20.) UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe ukuthi ‘bahambe’ ebantwini bonke. NgePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., uJehova wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi wayesefuna abantu bezizwe zonke batshunyayezwe. Wathululela umoya wakhe ongcwele ebantwini abangu-120 ababengamalunga ebandla elitsha njalo baqalisa ukukhuluma ngezindimi ezitshiyeneyo kumaJuda lakulabo abasebephendukele enkolweni yeqiniso. (ImiSeb. 2:4-11) Ngemva kwalokho batshumayela lakumaSamariya. Kwathi ngomnyaka ka-36 C.E., basebetshumayela lasebantwini beZizwe ababengasokanga. Kwakhanya ukuthi ivangeli loMbuso kwakusekumele litshunyayelwe ezizweni zonke.

13, 14. (a) Wawukhuthazani “umlayo omutsha”? (b) Sifundani esibonelweni sikaJesu?

¹³ Khathesi ake sixoxe ngomlayo wesibili ophathelane lendlela okumele siphathe ngayo abanye. UJesu wasungula “umlayo omutsha.” (Bala UJohane 13:34, 35.) Umlayo lo ukhuthaza abalandeli bakhe ukuthi bazimisele ukubafela abazalwane babo hatshi ukubathanda nje kuphela. Kwakungekho lokhu eMthethweni kaMosi.—Mat. 22:39; 1 Joh. 3:16.

¹⁴ UJesu waba yisibonelo esihle endabeni le. Wayebathanda kakhulu abalandeli bakhe. Indlela ayebathanda ngayo yiyo eyamfuqa ukuthi anikele ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze abahlenge. Yikho kanye ayekhangelele ukuthi labo bazimisele ukukwenza kwabanye futhi lathi kumele simlingisele. Kungadingakala ukuthi sidlule phakathi kobunzima ngenxa yabafowethu futhi sizimisele lokubafela.—1 Thes. 2:8.

15, 16. Yiluphi untshintsho oselukhona khathesi, njalo uNkulunkulu usiqondisa njani?

¹⁵ UJesu ubelokhu enika abantu bakhe ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo selokhu kwabekwa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’ (Mat. 24:45-47) Ukudla lokhu kugoqela leziqondiso eziqakathekileyo esizinikwayo ukuze sihambisane lokuntshintsha kwezinto.

¹⁶ Khathesi siphila “ezinsukwini zokucina” njalo sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi ukuhlupheka okukhulu kufike—usizi olungakaze lube khona selokhu kwadabuka umhlaba. (2 Tim. 3:1; Mak. 13:19) Okunye njalo yikuthi uSathane lezingilosi zakhe baphoselwa phansi emhlabeni futhi lokhu kudale imbangalusizi ebantwini. (Isam. 12:9, 12) Kanti njalo sinikwe lomsebenzi omkhulu ongakaze ube khona owokutshumayeza abantu bazo zonke izizwe abakhuluma izindimi ezitshiyeneyo.

17, 18. Kumele senzeni nxa siphiwa iziqondiso?

¹⁷ Kunengi esikuphiwa yinhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu esingakusebenzisa ekutshumayeleni. Wena uyakusebenzisa yini? Uyalalela yini nxa uphiwa iziqondiso emihlanganweni yethu ezimayelana lokuthi singazisebenzisa njani izinto lezi ngendlela ephumelelayo? Uyakubona yini ukuthi iziqondiso lezi zivela kuNkulunkulu?

¹⁸ Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi nxa sifuna ukuthola isibusiso ezivela kuNkulunkulu kumele silalele zonke iziqondiso esiziphiwa ebandleni lobuKhristu. Ukulalela khathesi kuzasinceda ukuthi silandele iziqondiso esizaziphiwa ngesikhathi ‘sokuhlupheka okukhulu’ lapho sekutshabalaliswa umhlaba lo omubi obuswa nguSathane. (Mat. 24:21) Ngemva kwalokho sizaphiwa iziqondiso ezintsha eziphathelane lokuphila emhlabeni omutsha olokulunga lapho uSathane azabe engasekho khona.

19, 20. Yiziphi izincwadi ezizavulwa, njalo kuzakuba lempumela bani?

¹⁹ Ngesikhathi sikaMosi abako-Israyeli babedinga iziqondiso ezintsha, yikho uNkulunkulu wabanika uMthetho. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ibandla lokuKhristu lona kwakumele lilandele  “umthetho kaKhristu.” IBhayibhili lithi ngesikhathi esizayo kuzavulwa izincwadi eziyabe zileziqondiso eziphathelane lokuphila emhlabeni omutsha. (Bala iSambulo 20:12.) Kungenzakala ukuthi izincwadi lezo zizabe zichaza lokho uJehova ayabe efuna abantu bakhe bakwenze ngaleso sikhathi. Ukutaditsha izincwadi lezi kuzanceda bonke abantu kuhlanganisa labavusiweyo ukuthi bayazi intando kaNkulunkulu. Zizasisiza lokuthi sifunde okunengi kakhulu ngendlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Ukuzwisisa iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngendlela ejulileyo kanye lokuqondiswa yizincwadi ezintsha ezizavulwa ngalesosikhathi kuzasisiza ukuthi sibathande kakhulu abanye, sibahloniphe njalo sibanike lesithunzi. (Isaya. 26:9) Ake ucabange ngemfundo esizayithola ngaphansi kweNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu!

²⁰ Ukuphila okungapheliyo kuzatholwa yilabo abazalalela lokhu okuzabe ‘kulotshwe ezincwadini.’ Labo abazahlala beqotho kuNkulunkulu kuze kwedlule ukuvivinywa kokucina, amabizo abo azalotshwa ‘encwadini yokuphila’ futhi kawasoze acitshwe lanini. Singakuthola sibili ukuphila okungapheliyo! Yikho kumele SIME, okutsho ukuthi sizinike isikhathi sokubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu, SIKHANGELE okutsho ukuthi sizwisise ukuthi esikubalayo kusebenza njani ekuphileni kwethu. Kanti njalo kumele SILALELE iziqondiso esiziphiwa nguNkulunkulu. Nxa singakwenza konke lokhu sizasinda ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu besesijabulela ukufunda okunengi ngoNkulunkulu wethu uJehova olothando lehlakanipho emangalisayo kuze kube nini lanini.—UmTshu. 3:11; Rom. 11:33.