1. Siphila kusiphi isikhathi?

SIPHILA ezinsukwini ezinzima kakhulu. IBhayibhili libiza lesisikhathi esaqalisa ngo-1914 ngokuthi ‘yizinsuku zokucina.’ Kulezi ‘zikhathi ezinzima,’ kwenzakala izinto ezimbi kakhulu ukwedlula lezo ezake zehlela abantu umnyaka lo ungakafiki. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Kanti njalo izinto emhlabeni zilokhu ziqhubeka zisiba zimbi, ngoba isiphrofetho seBhayibhili sasitshilo ukuthi “abantu ababi labakhohlisi bazakonakala ngokudlulisileyo.”—2 Tim. 3:13.

2. Abantu emhlabeni lo bazilibazisa ngezinto ezinjani? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

² Abantu abanengi bazilibazisa ngokubukela loba ukwenza izinto ezilodlakela, ukuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini, ubudimoni lezinye izinto ezingamthokozisiyo uNkulunkulu. Ngokwesibonelo, i-Inthanethi, izinhlelo ze-TV, amafilimu, izingwalo kanye lamamagazini kwenza udlakela kanye lokuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini kukhanye kuyizinto ezinhle. Ukuziphatha obekulihlazo izolo lamuhla sekuyizinto ezisemthethweni kwezinye izindawo. Kodwa lokhu  akutsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyakwamukela ukuziphatha okunjalo.—Bala uRoma 1:28-32.

3. Abantu abasebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili bajayele ukuphathwa njani?

³ Ekhulwini lokuqala, abalandeli bakaJesu babekuxwaya ukuzilibazisa okungahlanzekanga. Ukwenza njalo lokuziphatha kwabo okuhle kwabangela ukuthi abantu emphakathini babachothoze njalo babahlukuluze. Umphostoli uPhetro wabhala wathi: “Bakubona kumangalisa ukuthi [lina maKhristu] kalibhudlukeli kanye labo kusikhukhula sinye sencithakalo, njalo bayalithuka kakhulu.” (1 Phet. 4:4) Kunjalo lalamuhla, abantu emhlabeni lo kuyabamangalisa kakhulu ukubona abantu abasebenzisa izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwabo. Phezu kwalokhu, “umuntu wonke othanda ukuphila impilo yokulalela uNkulunkulu kuKhristu uJesu uzahlukuluzwa.”—2 Tim. 3:12.

4. Kuyini iMibhalo esilaya ukuba singakwenzi mayelana lomhlaba lo?

⁴ IMibhalo ilaya labo abafuna ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu ukuthi bangawuthandi umhlaba lo lemikhuba yawo. (Bala u-1 Johane 2:15, 16.) “Unkulunkulu walesisikhathi,” uSathane uDeveli nguye oqondisa ezenkolo, ezombusazwe, ezokuthengiselana kanye lezindlela ezisetshenziswa ukusakaza izindaba emhlabeni. (2 Khor. 4:4; 1 Joh. 5:19) Ngakho thina amaKhristu kumele siqaphele ukuthi ngobani abangabangane bethu. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelweyo likubeka ngendlela ecacileyo lokhu. Lithi: “Lingedukiswa: ‘Abangane ababi bayasona isimilo esihle.’ ”—1 Khor. 15:33.

5, 6. Ngobani okungamelanga sizihlanganise labo, futhi ngani?

⁵ Nxa singafuni ukonakalisa isimilo sethu esihle, akumelanga sibe labangane abenza izinto ezimbi. Lokhu akutsho ukuthi sixwaye abantu abangakholwayo abenza izinto ezimbi kuphela, kodwa kutshiwo lalabo abathi bona bakhonza uJehova kodwa beseqa imithetho yakhe ngabomu. Nxa abantu laba abathi bangamaKhristu bangenza isono esikhulu njalo bengaphenduki, siyabuquma ubungane bethu labo.—Rom. 16:17, 18.

⁶ Nxa besingaba labangane abangayihloniphiyo imithetho kaNkulunkulu, besingacina sesisiba lomkhuba wokwenza lokho abakwenzayo sizama ukuthi silondoloze ubungane labo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa singaba labangane abaziphatha kubi kwezemacansini, lathi singacina sesiwela kuleso silingo. Lokhu sekuke kwenzakala kwabanye abafowethu labodadewethu, njalo abanye babo bacina sebesuswa ngenxa yokuthi kabazange baphenduke esonweni sabo. (1 Khor. 5:11-13) Ngaphandle kokuthi baphenduke, bangacina sebesesimeni esifanana laleso esachazwa nguPhetro.—Bala u-2 Phetro 2:20-22.

7. Ngobani okumele sibakhethe ukuthi babe ngabangane bethu?

⁷ Siyafuna sibili ukubaphatha ngomusa abantu abangayilandeliyo imithetho kaNkulunkulu, kodwa akumelanga babe ngabangane bethu abasekhwapheni loba sibe lobudlelwano obuseduze labo. Ngakho akuqondanga ukuthandana lomuntu ongazinikelanga kuJehova, ongathembekanga kuye kumbe ongazihloniphiyo izimiso zikaNkulunkulu eziphakemeyo. Ukuhlala siqotho kuqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula ukuthandwa ngabantu abangelandaba lemithetho kaJehova. Abangane bethu abasekhwapheni kumele kube ngabantu abenza intando kaNkulunkulu. UJesu wathi: “Loba ngubani owenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngumfowethu, ngudadewethu njalo ngumama.”—Mak. 3:35.

8. Ukuzihlanganisa labangane ababi kwawaphambanisa njani ama-Israyeli asendulo?

⁸ Ama-Israyeli ayifunda ivaliwe ukuthi abangane ababi bayingozi kangakanani. Lapho uJehova ewakhulula ebugqilini eGibhithe  futhi ewasa eLizweni Lesithembiso, wawatshela ukuthi aphile njani labantu bakulelo lizwe, wathi: “Lingabakhothameli onkulunkulu babo, lingabakhonzi njalo lingalandeli imikhuba yabo. Kufanele libhidlize onkulunkulu babo njalo lidilize amatshe abo abawakhonzayo. Mkhonzeni uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu.” (Eks. 23:24, 25) Kodwa inengi lama-Israyeli kalizange lizilalele iziqondiso zikaNkulunkulu. (Hubo. 106:35-39) Kawazange athembeke kuNkulunkulu, yikho uJesu wacina esesithi kuwo: “Bona-ke indlu yakho isikhala ibhungane.” (Mat. 23:38) UJehova wawalahla ama-Israyeli, wantshintshela isibusiso sakhe ebandleni lobuKhristu elitsha elalisanda kubunjwa.—ImiSeb. 2:1-4.

9. Kungani izinto ezisakazwa emhlabeni lo zingaba yingozi kithi?

⁹ Izinto ezinengi ezisakazwayo emhlabeni lo zingenza ukuthi umKhristu alahlekelwe yibuhlobo bakhe loJehova. Izinto lezi kazenzelwanga ukuqinisa ukholo kuJehova lasezithembisweni zakhe, kodwa zikhuthaza abantu ukuthi bagijimise izinto ezitholakala emhlabeni kaSathane. Yikho-ke kumele sinanzelele sibili ukuthi izinto esikhetha ukuzilibazisa ngazo kazisoze zivuse ‘izinkanuko zomhlaba.’—Tit. 2:12.

10. Kuzakwenzakalani ezintweni eziyingozi ezibalwayo lezibukelwa ngabantu?

¹⁰ Sekuseduze ukuthi zonke izinto eziyingozi ezibalwayo lezibukelwa ngabantu zingaphindi zibe khona. Zizasuswa lapho umhlaba kaSathane usutshabalaliswa ngoba zivela kuwo. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Umhlaba lezinkanuko zawo kuyadlula, kodwa umuntu owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uphila kuze kube nininini.” (1 Joh. 2:17) Umhubi laye wahlabelela wathi: “Ngokuba abantu ababi bazasuswa, kodwa labo abathemba uJehova bazakudla ilifa lelizwe. Kodwa abathobekileyo bazakudla ilifa lelizwe bakholise ukuthula okukhulu.” Kuzabe kungokwesikhathi esingakanani lokhu? Nansi impendulo: “Abalungileyo bazazuza ilifa lelizwe bahlale kulo lanini.”—Hubo. 37:9, 11, 29.

11. UJehova ubondla njani abantu bakhe?

¹¹ Inhlanganiso kaJehova yehlukene kakhulu lomhlaba lo ngoba yona isakaza izinto ezikhuthaza abantu kulezi zinsuku zokucina ukuba baphile ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo. UJesu wathandaza kuJehova wathi: ‘Manje-ke yilokhu ukuphila okungapheliyo: Ukuthi bakwazi wena, onguwe wedwa uNkulunkulu weqiniso loJesu Khristu omthumileyo.’ (Joh. 17:3) UBaba wethu osezulwini usinika inala yemfundo eyakhayo esebenzisa inhlanganiso yakhe. Sibusisiwe okwamagama ngoba silezinto ezikhuthaza ukukhonza kweqiniso! Silamamagazini, amabhukwana, amabhuku, amavidiyo kanye leWebhusayithi yethu. Inhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu ihlela lemihlangano eyenziwa maviki wonke emabandleni edlula 110 000 emhlabeni jikelele. Emihlanganweni le kanye lakweminye emikhulu, sithola imfundo esekelwe eBhayibhilini eqinisa ukholo lwethu kuNkulunkulu lasezithembisweni zakhe.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

12. Chaza ukuthi utshoni umlayo weBhayibhili othi sitshade ‘eNkosini’ kuphela.

¹² Kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi amaKhristu afuna ukutshada ananzelele abangane abakhethayo. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lisinika umlayo ocacileyo othi: “Lingazibopheli ndawonye labangakholwayo. Ngoba ukulunga lobubi kulokuhambelana bani na? Loba yibudlelwano bani obungaba khona phakathi kokukhanya lobumnyama na?” (2 Khor. 6:14) IBhayibhili lilaya izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezidinga umuntu wokutshada laye ukuthi zitshade ‘eNkosini’ kuphela, okutsho ukuthi kumele zitshade lomuntu ozinikeleyo kuJehova, obhaphathiziweyo njalo osebenzisa izimfundiso zeBhayibhili ekuphileni  kwakhe. (1 Khor. 7:39) Nxa umKhristu angakhetha umuntu wokutshada laye ebantwini bakaJehova, uzathola umngane omuhle ozinikele kuJehova futhi ozamncedisa ukuthi aqhubeke eqotho kuye.

13. Yiwuphi umlayo ophathelane lokutshada uNkulunkulu awunika ama-Israyeli?

¹³ UJehova uyakwazi okulungele izinceku zakhe, njalo kakaze aguquke endabeni yokutshada kuphela eNkosini. Lasendulo wayenike abako-Israyeli umlayo owawucacile esebenzisa uMosi. Wabatshela ngezizwe ezaziseduze kwabo ezazingamkhonzi wathi: “Lingendiselani lazo. Lingendiseli amadodakazi enu emadodaneni azo, kumbe lithathele amadodana enu amadodakazi azo, ngoba azaphambula amadodana enu ekungikhonzeni abesekhonza abanye onkulunkulu, kuthi ulaka lukaJehova luvuthe lulitshise litshabalale.”—Dute. 7:3, 4.

14, 15. Ukungalaleli umlayo kaJehova ngabomu kwamphambanisa njani uSolomoni?

¹⁴ Kwathi uSolomoni indodana kaDavida esanda kuba yinkosi, wathandaza ecela ukuhlakanipha njalo uNkulunkulu wamnika ukuhlakanipha okukhulu. Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni yaba ngumbusi odumileyo ngenxa yenhlakanipho yayo futhi kwaba lempumelelo enkulu elizweni layo. USolomoni wayehlakaniphile okokuthi lapho indlovukazi yaseSheba imethekelela yababaza yathi: “Kangiyikholwanga leyomibiko ngize ngafika ngazibonela ngamehlo ami. Khangela, bengingatshelwanga ngitsho lengxenye nje; ukuhlakanipha kwakho lokuphumelela kwakho kuyayedlula imibiko engayizwayo.” (1 AmaKho. 10:7, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Kodwa uSolomoni waba yisibonelo esidanisayo esitshengisa lokho okungenzakala nxa umuntu angaweqa ngabomu umlayo kaNkulunkulu ophathelane lokutshada kuphela eNkosini.—UmTshu. 4:13.

¹⁵ UJehova uNkulunkulu wayemenzele izinto ezinengi uSolomoni, kodwa yena weqa umlayo wakhe watshada labafazi bezizwe ezazingomakhelwana ezazingamkhonzi uJehova. USolomoni ‘wabathanda kakhulu abafazi bezizweni,’ wacina eselabafazi abangu-700 kanye labanye abeceleni abangu-300. Kwaphetha ngani? USolomoni wathi eseluphele, abafazi bakhe ababengabahedeni “baphambulela ukholo lwakhe kwabanye onkulunkulu, . . . Ngalokho uSolomoni wona phambi kukaJehova.” (1 AmaKho. 11:1-6) Ukuzihlanganisa labangane ababi kwabangela ukuthi uSolomoni alahlekelwe yikuhlakanipha kwakhe njalo kwenza lokuthi acine esekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. Lokhu kuyisixwayiso esikhulu kumaKhristu angabe ecabanga ukutshada lomuntu ongamthandiyo uJehova!

16. Yisiphi iseluleko esiseMibhalweni esisebenza encekwini kaNkulunkulu elomkayo ongakholwayo?

¹⁶ Kodwa kuthiwani nxa umuntu angaba yisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu evele etshade lomuntu ongakholwayo? IBhayibhili lithi: “Bafazi zehliseleni kubomkenu ukuze kuthi uma abanye babo bengalikholwa ilizwi, bahugeke ngokuziphatha kwabomkabo kungekho kukhuluma.” (1 Phet. 3:1) Lanxa amazwi la eqondiswe kubafazi abangamaKhristu, ayasebenza lasendodeni esiphenduke yaba yisikhonzi sikaJehova kodwa umkayo engakholwa. Ngakho iseluleko seBhayibhili esicacileyo yilesi: Woba yindoda loba umfazi olungileyo njalo usebenzise izimiso zikaNkulunkulu eziphathelane lomtshado. Manengi amadoda labafazi abacina sebelamukela iqiniso ngenxa yokubona indlela izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ezibantshintshe ngayo omkabo.

17, 18. Kungani uNowa kanye lamaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala basinda lapho kususwa ububi obabukhona ngesikhathi ababephila kuso?

¹⁷ Abangane ababi bayasona isimilo esihle, kodwa abangane abahle bathela izithelo ezinhle okumangalisayo. Cabanga ngoNowa owaphila emhlabeni owawugcwele ububi. Kazange  abe lesifiso sokukhetha abangane ebantwini ayephila labo. Ngalesosikhathi, “uNkulunkulu wabona ukuthi ukuxhwala kwabantu kwasekukukhulu kanganani emhlabeni, njalo lokuthi zonke izinkanuko zeminakano yezinhliziyo zabo zaziyibubi kuphela sonke isikhathi.” (Gen. 6:5) Ngakho uNkulunkulu wazimisela ukususa bonke abantu ababesenza izinto ezimbi ebusweni bomhlaba esebenzisa uzamcolo owakhukhula umhlaba wonke. Kodwa “uNowa wayeyindoda elungileyo, engelasici phakathi kwabantu ngalesosikhathi, njalo wabambelela kuNkulunkulu.”—Gen. 6:7-9.

¹⁸ Kusegcekeni ukuthi uNowa kazange abe labangane ababengamlaleli uNkulunkulu. Yena labemuli yakhe abangu-7 babephathekile emsebenzini ababewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu owawugoqela ukwakha umkhumbi. Kanti njalo uNowa ‘wayengumtshumayeli wokulunga.’ (2 Phet. 2:5) Ukutshumayela, ukwakha umkhumbi kanye lokuhlala eseduze lemuli yakhe kwenza ukuthi abe lezinto ezinengi zokwenza ezazithokozisa uNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokhu, uNowa lemuli yakhe basinda lapho kufika uZamcolo. Kumele sibabonge ngenxa yokuthi sonke lamuhla sadabuka kulabobantu ababekhonza uJehova, okutsho uNowa, umkakhe, amadodana akhe kanye labomkabo. AmaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayethembekile njalo elalela, lawo kawazange azihlanganise labantu abangamlaleliyo uNkulunkulu njalo asinda lapho kubhujiswa iJerusalema lomumo wezinto wamaJuda ngo-70 C.E.—Luk. 21:20-22.

19. Kumele senzeni ukuze samukelwe nguNkulunkulu?

¹⁹ Njengoba siyizikhonzi zikaJehova, kumele silingisele uNowa, imuli yakhe kanye lamaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala ayethembekile. Akumelanga sizihlanganise lomumo wezinto omubi esiphila kuwo, kodwa kumele sikhethe abangane phakathi kwezigidi zabafowethu labodadewethu abathembekileyo. Nxa singahlala siseduze lalabo abaqondiswa yinhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu, ‘sizaqina ekukholweni’ lanxa siphila kulezi zinsuku ezinzima. (1 Khor. 16:13; Zaga. 13:20) Cabanga langezibusiso ezinhle kakhulu esizazithola! Nxa singaqaphela abangane esibakhethayo kulezi zinsuku zokucina sizakwenelisa ukusinda lapho ukucina komhlaba lo omubi kufika, besesingena emhlabeni omutsha osuseduze esiwuthenjiswa nguJehova ozabe ulokulunga.