‘Sekusikhathi Esifaneleko Kwamambala’

“Sekusikhathi esifaneleko, kwamambala “sekulisuku lephuluso.”—2 KOR. 6:2.

1. Kubayini kufuze sitjheje bona ngiyiphi into eqakathekileko okufuze siyenze?

“KUNESIKHATHI esibekiweko senye nenye into, ngitjho nesikhathi sayo yoke into ngaphasi kwamazulu. (Mtj. 3:1) USolomoni watlola malungana nokuqakatheka kokutjheja isikhathi esincono sayo yoke into—kungaba kubhura, ukukhamba, ibhizinisi namtjhana ukukhuluma nabanye. Nanyana kunjalo, kufuze sitjheje bona ngiwuphi umberego oqakatheke khulu okufuze siwenze. Ngamanye amezwi, kufuze isikhanyele kuhle iimnqophwethu.

2. Sazi njani bona uJesu nekatjhumayelako, bekasitjheja isikhathi ebekaphila kiso?

² Nekasephasini, uJesu gade azi kuhle ngesikhathi egade aphila kiso nokobana khuyini okufuze ayenze. Azi kuhle bonyana khuyini eza qangi kuye, bekazi bona isikhathi eside ebesilindelwe seemporofido ezinengi zakaMesiya ezizokuzaliseka siseduze. (1 Pit. 1:11; ISam. 19:10) Bekanomberego okufuze awenze bona enze abantu bamazi njengoMesiya othenjisiweko. Bekufuze anikele ubufakazi obuzeleko ngeqiniso loMbuso nokubuthelela labo abazokuba ziindlalifa zangomuso naye eMbusweni.  Wabeka isisekelo sebandla lobuKrestu ebelizokwenza umsebenzi wokutjhumayela nokwenza abafundi kufikela emaphelelweni wephasi.—Mar. 1:15.

3. Ukutjheja kwaJesu isikhathi kwazithinta njani izenzo zakhe?

³ Ukutjheja kwakaJesu isikhathi kwamtjhukumisela bona enze intando kaYise ngetjisakalo. Watjela abafundi bakhe wathi: “Sinengi isivuno, kodwana balilitjhwana abasivunako. Bawani eKosini yesivuno bona ithumele abantu bazobuthelela isivuno sayo.” (Luka 10:2; Mal. 4:5, 6) Kokuthoma, uJesu wakhetha abali-12 bese wakhetha abama-70 hlangana nabafundi bakhe, wabanikela iinluleko ezikhethekileko, wabathuma bonyana bayokutjhumayela umlayezo otjhukumisako othi: “Umbuso wezulu ubandamele!” Naku esikufunda ngoJesu: “Kwathi bona uJesu aqede ukulaya abafundi bakhe abalitjhumi nambili, wasuka lapho wayofundisa watjhumayela emizini yabo.”—Mat. 10:5-7; 11:1; Luka 10:1.

4. UPowula wamlingisa ngayiphi indlela uJesu Krestu?

⁴ UJesu gade kusibonelo esipheleleko setjisakalo nesokuzinikela kibo boke abalandeli bakhe. Lokhu ngikho umpostoli uPowula egade aqalise kikho nekakhuthaza akholwa nabo: “Ngilingisani njengombana nami ngilingisa uKrestu.” (1 Kor. 11:1) UPowula wamlingisa ngayiphi indlela uJesu Krestu? Kokuthoma, ngokungazibabaleli nekufuze atjhumayele iindaba ezimnandi ebantwini. Eencwadini uPowula azitlolela amabandla, sifumaa amezwi anjengokuthi “nisebenze ningadondi,” “nisebenzele iKosi,” “nikhuthale njalo emsebenzini weKosi uJesu,” “koke enikwenzako kwenzeni ngehliziyo ehle, ingathi nenzela iKosi.” (Rom. 12:11; 1 Kor. 15:58; Khol. 3:23) UPowula akhenge akukhohlwe ukuhlangana kwakhe neKosi uJesu Krestu endleleni eya eDamaseku namezwi kaJesu umfundi u-Ananiyasi amtjela wona: ‘Umuntu lo nguye osisitja sami esikhethiweko sokuphatha ibizo lami ebantwini abatjhili nemakhosini, nebantwini bakwa-Israyeli.’—IZe. 9:15; Rom. 1:1, 5; Gal. 1:16.

‘Isikhathi Esifaneleko’

5. Khuyini eyatjhukumisa uPowula bona enze ikonzwakhe ngetjisakalo?

⁵ Nesifunda incwadi yeZenzo, sisibona kuhle isibindi netjisakalo uPowula ayitjengisako ekwenzeni ikonzwakhe. (IZe. 13:9, 10; 17:16, 17; 18:5) UPowula watjheja ukuqakatheka kwesikhathi aphila kiso. Wathi: “Sekusikhathi esifaneleko, kwamambala “sekulisuku lephuluso.” (2 Kor. 6:2) Emva le ngabo-537 B.C.E., bekusikhathi esifaneleko sabathunjwa eBhabhiloni bona babuyele enarheni yekhabo. (Isa. 49:8, 9) Kodwana uPowula gade aqalise kuphi la? Okubhode indaba le kusirhelebha sibone bonyana gade acabangani.

6, 7. Ngiliphi ilungelo elikhulu elinikelwe amaKrestu azesiweko namhlanjesi, begodu bobani ababeregisana nabazesiweko?

⁶ Ekuthomeni encwadinakhe, uPowula wakhuluma ngelungelo elikhulu anikelwa lona namaKrestu egade anawo. (Funda u-2 KwebeKorinte 5:18-20.) Wahlathulula bona wabizwa nguZimu ngomnqopho okhethekileko, bona enze “ikonzo yokubuyisana,” ukurabhela abantu bonyana ‘babuyisane noZimu.’ Lokhu kutjho ukubuyisela ubuhlobo namtjhana ukuvumelana noZimu.

⁷ Solo kwaba nokuhlubuka e-Edeni, boke abantu bahlukaniswa noJehova. (Rom. 3:10, 23) Ukuhlukaniswokho kwabeka soke isintu  ebumnyameni obungokomoya, kwasidosela ekutlhageni nekufeni. UPowula watlola: “Siyazi bona khathesi okubunjiweko koke kusatsitsila eenhlungwini.” (Rom. 8:22) Kodwana uZimu wathatha amagadango, wokukhuthaza, eqinisweni ‘wokurabhela’ abantu bona babuye, namtjhana babuyisane naye. Le, yikonzo eyanikelwa uPowula namaKrestu azesiweko egade anawo ngesikhatheso. ‘Isikhathi esifaneleko’ singaba ‘lisuku lephuluso’ kilabo ababeka ikholo kuJesu. Woke amaKrestu azesiweko nabangani bawo, ‘ezinye izimvu,’ ayaberegisana, aragela phambili nokumema abantu bona bazuze ‘esikhathini esifaneleko.’—Jwa. 10:16.

8. Yini eyenza ukubuyisana noZimu kube yinto ekhethekileko?

⁸ Ukubizwa kwabantu bona babuyisane noZimu kubonakala kuhle ngombana ngitjho nanyana isintu sinomlandu ngokulimaza ubuhlobo baso noZimu okwabangelwa kuhlubuka e-Edeni—uZimu ngokwakhe uthethe igadango lokuthoma lokulungisa umonakalo loyo. (1 Jwa. 4:10, 19) Wenzani? UPowula uyaphendula: “UZimu wabuyisana nephasi ngoKrestu. UZimu akababaleli abantu izono zabo, kodwana wasinikela ilizwi lokubuyisana.”—2 Kor. 5:19; Isa. 55:6.

9. Khuyini uPowula ayenzako ukutjengisa ukuthokoza ngomusa kaZimu?

⁹ Ngokusilungiselela isihlabelo sesihlengo, uJehova wakwenza kwakghoneka ngalabo abatjengisa ikholo bona balitjalelwe izono zabo begodu babuyisele ubuhlobo namtjhana bavumelane naye. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wathumela iinthunywa zakhe bona zikhuthaze abantu kizo zoke iindawo bonyana babe nokuthula naye nekusakghonekako. (Funda yoku-1 KuThimothi 2:3-6.) Ukwazi intando kaZimu nokutjheja isikhathi aphila kiso, uPowula ngokungadinwa wazinikela ‘ekonzweni yokubuyisana.’ Intando kaJehova ayikatjhentjhi. Kusese yintando kaJehova bona isintu esihlukanisiweko sibuyise ubuhlobo baso naye. Amezwi kaPowula athi, “sekusikhathi esifaneleko, kwamambala” begodu “sekulisuku lephuluso” asaberega. Qala bona uJehova unguZimu onomusa nonobuntu kangangani!—Eks. 34:6, 7.

Ungaphundwa Mnqopho Wawo

10. ‘Isuku lephuluso’ belitjho ukuthini emaKrestwini azesiweko, esikhathini esidlulileko nanamhlanjesi?

¹⁰ Abantu bokuthoma abazuza ethubeni lokubuyisana noZimu ngilabo ‘esele bakuKrestu.’ (2 Kor. 5:17, 18) Kibo, ‘isuku lephuluso’ lathoma ngePentekosi laka-33 C.E. Kusukela lapho ukuya phambili, abanjalo babelwa umsebenzi wokuzwakalisa “ilizwi lokubuyisana.” Namhlanjesi abaseleko bamaKrestu azesiweko basenza “ikonzo yokubuyisana.” Bayatjheja bona iingilozi ezine umpostoli uJwanisi azibona embonweni osiporofido “zibambe imimoya yomine yephasi, khona kungazukuba khona umoya ovunguzako ephasinapha.” Ngalokho, kusese ‘lisuku lephuluso’ begodu ‘sikhathi esifaneleko.’ (ISam. 7:1-3) Ngebangelo, kusukela ekuthomeni kwekhulu lama-20 leemnyaka, abaseleko babazesiweko bebayenza ngetjisakalo “ikonzo yokubuyisana” eengcenyeni ezikude zephasi.

11, 12. Ekuthomeni kwekhulu lama-20 amaKrestu azesiweko akutjengisa njani ukutjheja kwawo isikhathi? (Qala isithombe esisekhasini-23.)

¹¹ Isibonelo, njengombana kuvezwe encwadini ethi, OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu, ekuthomeni kwekhulu lama-20 leemnyaka, “u-C. T. Russell nabangani bakhe bakholelwa ngamandla bona basesikhathini sokuvuna begodu abantu kufuze bezwe iqiniso elitjhaphululako.” Benzani ngalokhu? Balimuka bona bebasesikhathini sokuvuna, ‘isikhathi esifaneleko,’ abazalwanaba khenge baneliswe kumema abantu bona bajoyine ikonzo ethileko yekolo. Abafundisi beSingabukrestu bebasolo benza njalo. Kunalokho, amaKrestu azesiweko layo athoma ukuhlola ezinye iindlela zokurhatjha iindaba ezimnandi. Hlangana nezinye izinto, bayiberegisa ngokuhlakanipha itheknoloji ukuthuthukisa umberegwabo.

 ¹² Bona sirhatjhe iindaba ezimnandi zoMbuso, isiqhema esincanesi seenkhonzi ezitjhisekako sasebenzisa amaphetjhana, abomagazini neencwadi. Godu satlola iintjumayelo neenhlokwana sazithumela bona ziyokugadangiswa eenkulungwaneni zamaphephandaba. Sarhatjha amahlelo woMtlolo emirhatjhweni yephasi mazombe. Senza begodu saberegisa iinthombe ezisikinyekako ezikhambisana nomdumo ogadangisiweko, ngitjho nangaphambi kobana irhwebo lamabhayisikobho likhuphele umphakathi iinthombe ezisikinyekako ezikhambisana nomdumo. Waba yini umphumela wetjisakalo ephikelelako le? Namhlanjesi, kunabantu abangaba ziingidi ezilikhomba abasabela bebahlanganyele ekurhuweleleni umlayezo othi: “Buyisanani noZimu.” Liqiniso, iinceku zakaJehova zangaphambilezo bezizimbonelo ezihle zetjisakalo naphezu kobujamo obulinganiselweko.

13. Ngiwuphi umnqopho kaZimu okufuze siwuqale njengohlakaniphileko?

¹³ Amezwi kaPowula athi, “Sekusikhathi esifaneleko,” asese liqiniso. Thina esakhe sezwa umusa ongakafaneli kaJehova kuyasithabisa bona siphiwe ithuba lokuzwa nokwamukela umlayezo wokubuyisana. Kunokubana sizizwe sanelisekile, siwaqala njengaqakathekileko amezwi kaPowula alandelako: “Siyanincenga bona ningamukeli umusa wakaZimu nidlale ngawo.” (2 Kor. 6:1) Umnqopho womusa omkhulu kaZimu ‘kubuyisana nephasi’ ngoKrestu.—2 Kor. 5:19.

14. Ngimaphi amathuba avulekako eenarheni ezinengi?

¹⁴ Inengi labantu abaphophazwe nguSathana, lisahlukaniswe noZimu begodu alazi ngehloso yomusakhe omkhulu. (2 Kor. 4:3, 4; 1 Joh. 5:19) Nanyana kunjalo, ubujamo bephasi oburhagalako bubangele inengi bona lisabele nelitjengiswa bonyana ukuhlukaniswa noZimu kungunobangela wobumbi besintu nokutlhaga. Ngitjho neenarheni lapho abantu abanengi badondiswa mberegwethu wokutjhumayela, njenganje inengi liyazamukela iindaba ezimnandi begodu lithatha amagadango wokubuyisana noZimu. Siyazwisisa na bona lesi sikhathi sokobana siberege ngetjisakalo ekulu ekuzwakaliseni isibawo esiqakathekilekwesi esithi: “Buyisanani noZimu”?

15. Kunokutjhumayela umlayezo odunduzelako kwaphela, khuyini esifuna abantu kiyo yoke indawo bayazi?

¹⁵ Umberegwethu akusikutjela abantu kwaphela bona nebaphendukela kuZimu, uzobarhelebha ngayo yoke iimrarwabo begodu bazozizwa babhedere. Ngilokho inengi elikuyela emasondweni, begodu namasondo akhuthalele ukuzalisa iimfiswezo. (2 Thim. 4:3, 4) Lokho akusimnqopho wekonzwethu. Iindaba ezimnandi esizitjhumayelako kukobana uJehova, ngethando lakhe, uzimisele ukulibalela iimtjhaphwethu ngoKrestu. Nanyana kunjalo, omunye nomunye angatjhaphuluka ekuhlukanisweni noZimu begodu abuyisane naye. (Rom. 5:10; 8:32) Nokho, ‘isikhathi esifaneleko,’ sitjhidela msinyana ekupheleni.

“Vuthani Emoyeni”

16. Khuyini eyarhelebha uPowula bona abe nesibindi netjisakalo?

¹⁶ Singayakha besiyibulunge njani-ke itjisakalo ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso? Abanye bangaba babantu abaneenhloni namtjhana babe ngabangakhulumiko ngokwemvelo, begodu bangakufumana kubudisi ukuveza amazizwabo namtjhana bakhulume. Nokho, kuhle ukukhumbula bona itjisakalo akusikutjengiswa kwamazizo wangaphandle namtjhana ithabo; nanyana ubuntu bomuntu. UPowula watjengisa  bona ingakhiwa beyibulungwe njani itjisakalo nekakhuthaza amaKrestu egade anawo, asithi: “Vuthani emoyeni.” (Rom 12:11, NW) Umoya kaJehova wadlala indima ekulu ekubeni nesibindi nokukghodlhelela kwabapostoli emberegweni wokutjhumayela. Kusukela ngesikhathi abizwa ngaso nguJesu ukuya ekubotjhweni kwakhe kwamaswaphela nokubulawelwa ikholo eRoma—isikhathi esingaphezu kweemnyaka ema-30—itjisakalo kaPowula akhenge inyakaziswe. Bekasolo aqale kuZimu, owamnikela amandla ngomoya. Wathi, ‘Nginaso isisongo sokujamelana nalokho koke, ngamandla angiphe wona.’ (Fil. 4:13) Qala bona singazuza kangangani nesifunda esibonelweni sakhe!

17. “Singavutha njani emoyeni?”

¹⁷ Ibizo elitjhugululwe ngokobana “ukuvutha” ngokwelizwi nelizwi litjho “ukudlhabhaza.” (Kingdom Interlinear) Ukubulunga iketlela yamanzi idlhabhaza, sitlhoga amandla womtjhiso aneleko. Ngokufanako, ‘nesizakuvutha emoyeni’ sitlhoga umoya kaZimu ogeleza qobe. Indlela yokuba nalokho kuberegisa woke amalungiselelo uJehova asiqinisa ngawo ngokomoya. Lokho kutjho ukuqala ukukhulekela komkhaya nokwebandla njengokuqakathekileko—ukuba nesifundo somuntu ngenyama, somkhaya, umthandazo nokuhlangana namaKrestu esinawo qobe. Lokho kuzosirhelebha bona sibe “nomlilo” ozokwenza ikholo lethu lihlale “lidlhabhaza” begodu kusibulunge ‘sivutha emoyeni.’—Funda IZenzo 4:20; 18:25.

18. NjengamaKrestu azinikeleko, ngimuphi umnqopho okufuze sidzimelele kiwo?

¹⁸ Umuntu ozinikeleko ngiloyo odzimelele ngokupheleleko emnqophweni begodu akathikaziseki lula namtjhana aqedwe amandla ekulandeleni umnqopho loyo. NjengamaKrestu azinikeleko, umnqophwethu kukwenza nanyana yini uJehova afuna bona siyenze, njengombana kwenza uJesu. (Heb. 10:7) Namhlanjesi, intando kaJehova kukobana abanengi babuyisane naye ngendlela okungakghoneka ngayo. Ngalokho, asibeni netjisakalo—ekulingiseni uJesu noPowula—emsebenzini oqakathekileko, orhaba kwamambala, okufuze wenziwe namhlanjesi.

Uyakhumbula?

• Ngiyiphi “ikonzo yokubuyisana” eyanikelwa uPowula namanye amaKrestu azesiweko?

• Abaseleko babazesiweko basiberegisa njani kuhle ‘isikhathi esifaneleko’?

• Iinkhonzi ezimaKrestu ‘zingavutha njani emoyeni’?

[Iimbuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 20]

UPowula akhenge akukhohlwe ukuhlangana kwakhe neKosi uJesu Krestu