UMPOROFIDI UJEREMIYA wathi, “uJehova nguZimu wamambala. NguZimu ophilako.” (Jeremiya 10:10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova uZimu Mbumbi wazo zoke izinto eziphilako. Iimbunjwa eziphilako zathi kuye: “Ngombana nguwe owabumba koke, ngentando yakho wakwenza bona kube khona kuphile.” (ISambulo 4:11) Engomeni yokudumisa uZimu, iKosi uDavidi yathi: “Ukuwe umthombo wokuphila.” (AmaRhalani 36:9) Ukuphila-ke kusisipho esivela kuZimu.

² UJehova uyakusekela ukuphila kwethu. (IZenzo 17:28) Usipha ukudla esikudlako, amanzi esiwaselako, umoya esiwuphefumulako, nephasi esihlala kilo. (IZenzo 14:15-17) UJehova wenza lokhu bona enze ukuphila kube ngokuthabisako. Kodwana nesizakuthabela ukuphila ngokuzeleko, kufuze sifunde imithetho kaZimu begodu siyilalele.—Isaya 48:17, 18.

UKUTJENGISA IHLONIPHO NGOKUPHILA

³ UZimu ufuna bona sibe nehlonipho ngokuphila—kokubili kwethu nokwabanye abantu. Isibonelo, emva le eenkhathini zaka-Adamu no-Efa, indodanabo uKayini yakwatela umnakwabo omncani u-Abela khulu. UJehova walemukisa uKayini bona ukukwata kwakhe kuzomdosela esonweni esikhulu. UKayini akhenge asithathele ehloko isiyelelisweso. ‘Wasahlela u-Abela umnakwabo wambulala.’ (Genesisi 4:3-8) UJehova wamnikela isibetho uKayini ngokubulala umnakwabo.—Genesisi 4:9-11.

⁴ Eemnyakeni eyikulungwana eyadlulako, uJehova wanikela ama-Israyeli umthetho ozowarhelebha bona amkhonze ngendlela eyamukelekako. Njengombana umthetho lo wanikelwa ngomporofidi uMosisi, ngezinye iinkhathi ubizwa bona Mthetho kaMosisi. Ingcenye yoMthetho kaMosisi beyithi: “Ungabulali.” (Duteronomi 5:17) Lokhu kwatjengisa ama-Israyeli bona uZimu ukuqala njengokuligugu ukuphila kwabantu begodu abantu kufuze bakuqale njengokuligugu ukuphila kwabanye.

⁵ Kuthiwani ngokuphila komntwana ongakabelethwa? Nokho, ngokoMthetho kaMosisi, ukubangela ukufa komntwana osesibelethweni sakanina gade kungakalungi. Kwamambala, ngitjho nokuphila okunjalo kuligugu kuJehova. (Eksodosi 21:22, 23; AmaRhalani 127:3) Lokhu kutjho bonyana ukurhulula umbungu akukalungi.

⁶ Ukuhlonipha ukuphila kutjho ukuba nombono olungileko ngabanye abantu. IBhayibhili ithi: “Loyo ohloya umzalwana wakhe umbulali, begodu niyazi bona umbulali akanakho ukuphila okungapheliko.” (1 KaJwanisi 3:15) Nesifuna ukuphila okungapheliko, kufuze sikhiphe eenhliziyweni zethu namtjhana ngiliphi ihloyo esinalo ngabanye abantu, ngombana ihloyo mrabhu omkhulu wenturhu. (1 KaJwanisi 3:11, 12) Kuqakathekile ukufunda ukuthandana.

SITJENGISA IHLONIPHO NGOKUPHILA

• ngokungarhululi umbungu

• ngokulisa imikghwa esilaphazekileko

• ngokobana singahloyi abanye abantu

⁷ Kuthiwani ngokuba nehlonipho ngokuphila kwethu? Ngokujayelekileko abantu abakufuni ukufa, kodwana abanye bazifaka engozini ngebanga lokuzithabisa. Isibonelo, abanengi baberegisa igwayi, bahlafunya ibetel nut namtjhana badle iindakamizwa ngebanga lokuzithabisa. Izinto ezinjalo ziyawulimaza umzimba begodu zibulale nalabo abaziberegisako. Umuntu onemikghwa yokuberegisa iintwezi akaqali ukuphila njengokucwengekileko. Imikghwa le mimbi emehlweni kaZimu. (KwebeRoma 6:19; 12:1; 2 KwebeKorinte 7:1) Ukukhonza uZimu ngendlela eyamukelekako, kutjho bona siyilahle imikghwa enjalo. Namtjhana ukwenza njalo kungaba budisi, uJehova angasinikela irhelebho esilitlhogako. Uyayithokozela imizamo esiyenzako yokuphatha ukuphila kwethu njengesipho esiligugu esivela kuye.

⁸ Nengabe siyakuhlonipha ukuphila, sizokuhlala sikhumbula ukuqakatheka kokuphepha. Asizokuba matjhapha begodu asizozifaka engozini ngebanga lokuzithabisa kwaphela. Sizokubalekela ukutjhayela kumbi, inturhu namtjhana imidlalo eyingozi. (AmaRhalani 11:5) Umthetho kaZimu kuma-Israyeli wekadeni wathi: “Nengabe wakha indlu etja [enamafulelo asipara], kufuze uyakhele umthangala, bonyana ungabangeli umndenakho icala leengazi ngombana umuntu angawa kiyo.” (Duteronomi 22:8) Ukuvumelana nemilayo ebekwe eemthethweni loyo, ukubulunga izinto ezinjengeentebhisi zisebujamweni obuhle emzinakho bonyana kungabi nomuntu okhutjwako awe alimale kabuhlungu. Nengabe unekoloyi, qiniseka bonyana isebujamweni obuhle. Umuzakho namtjhana ikoloyakho ingabi yingozi kuwe namtjhana kwabanye.

⁹ Kuthiwani ngokuphila kwesilwana? Nakho kucwengekile kuMbumbi. UZimu uvumela ukubulawa kweenlwana bonyana sifumane ukudla, iimbatho namtjhana ukuvikela abantu engozini. (Genesisi 3:21; 9:3; Eksodosi 21:28) Nokho, ukuba nelunya eenlwaneni nokuzibulala ngebanga lokuzithabisa kwaphela, akukalungi begodu kutjengisa ukungakuhloniphi ukucwengeka kokuphila.—Iziyema 12:10.

UKUTJENGISA IHLONIPHO NGEENGAZI

¹⁰ Ngemva kobana uKayini abulele umnakwabo u-Abela, uJehova watjela uKayini: “Iingazi zomnakwenu ziyalila kimi ehlabathini.” (Genesisi 4:10) Lokha uZimu nekakhuluma ngeengazi zaka-Abela, gade akhuluma ngokuphila kwaka-Abela. UKayini uthathe ukuphila kwaka-Abela, begodu nje uzokufumana isibetho. Bekunjengokungathi iingazi zaka-Abela namtjhana ukuphila kwakhe, bekulilela ukulunga kuJehova. Ukuhlobana kokuphila neengazi kwatjengiswa godu ngemva kweKukhulamungu weenkhathi zakaNuwa. Ngaphambi kweKukhulamungu, abantu bebadla iinthelo, imirorho, iinthoro namantongomani. Ngemva kweKukhulamungu uJehova watjela uNuwa namadodanakhe: “Isilwana esinye nesinye esiphilako ningasidla. Njengemirorho ngininikela zona.” Nokho, uZimu wabeka nasi imilayo: “Inyama enomphefumulo wayo [namtjhana ukuphila]—iziingazi—akukafaneli niyidle.” (Genesisi 1:29; 9:3, 4) Kuyakhanya, uJehova uhlobanisa eduze ukuphila neengazi zesibunjwa.

¹¹ Sitjengisa ihlonipho ngeengazi ngokungazidli. EMthethweni uJehova awunikela ama-Israyeli wathi: “Nanyana ngimuphi umuntu…ozumako abambe isibandana namtjhana inyoni edliwako, ebujameni obunjalo kufuze ayikhuphe iingazi begodu iingazezo azivale ngehlabathi…. Ngathi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli: ‘Akufuneki nidle iingazi zananyana ngiyiphi enye inyama.’” (Lefitikosi 17:13, 14) Umlayo kaZimu wokobana kungadliwa iingazi zesilwana, kokuthoma owanikelwa uNuwa eemnyakeni elinganiselwa kwema-800 ngaphambili, usaberega nanamhlanje. Umbono kaJehova bewukhanya: Iinceku zakhe bezingadla inyama yesilwana kodwana ingasi iingazi. Bekufuze ziphalaze iingazi ehlabathini—ngendlela leyo, zibuyisela ukuphila kwesibunjwa kuZimu.

¹² Umlayo ofanako usaberega kumaKrestu namhlanjesi. Abapostoli namanye amadoda adosa abalandeli bakaJesu phambili ekhulwini lokuthoma ahlangana bona enze isiqunto sokobana ngimiphi imilayo okufuze ithotjelwe ngiwo woke umuntu ebandleni lobuKrestu. Benza nasi isiqunto: “Ngombana umoya ocwengileko nathi sivumelene bona singabeki umthwalo phezu kwenu ngaphandle kwemithetho le efaneleko: Ningagomi ukudla okunikelwe abosingazimu, ningadli iingazi; ningadli inyamazana ekganyiweko, [ukutjhiya iingazi enyameni] nilise ubungwadla.” (IZenzo 15:28, 29; 21:25) Ngalokho kufuze ‘bangagomi iingazi.’ Emehlweni kaZimu, ukwenza kwethu njalo kuqakatheke njengokubalekela ukukhonza iinthombe nokuziphatha kumbi ngokomseme.

¹³ Umlayo wokungadli iingazi uhlanganisa nokupontjelwa iingazi na? Iye, kunjalo. Ukutjengisa: Khesithi udorhodere ukutjela bona ulise ukusela utjwala. Lokho bekungatjho bona akufuneki usele utjwala kodwana ungabufaka ngomjovo emithanjenakho? Awa, angekhe! Ngokufanako, ukungafakeli iingazi kutjho ukungazifaki emizimbeni yethu namtjhana ngayiphi indlela. Ngalokho umlayo wokungafaki iingazi utjho bona angekhe sivumele namtjhana ngubani asifakele iingazi emthanjenethu.

¹⁴ Kuthiwani-ke nengabe umKrestu ulimele khulu namtjhana kutlhogeka enze ukuhlinzwa okukhulu? Khesithi abodorhodere bamtjela bona kufuze apontjelwe iingazi nekungasi njalo uzokufa. Kuliqiniso, umKrestu angekhe afune ukufa. Emizamweni yokulinga ukuvikela isipho esiligugu esivela kuZimu esikuphila, angamukela ezinye iindlela zokulapha ezingahlanganisi ukuberegiswa kumbi kweengazi. Kunalokho, uzokufuna iindlela ezinjalo zokulatjhwa nengabe ziyafumaneka begodu uzokwamukela iindlela ezihlukahlukeneko zokulatjhwa ezingahlanganisi ukufakwa iingazi.

¹⁵ UmKrestu angaphula umthetho kaZimu na bonyana aphile isikhatjhana ebujamweni bangesikhathesi bezinto? UJesu wathi: “Ngombana loyo ofuna ukuphulusa ipilo yakhe [namtjhana umphefumulo] izomlahlekela; kodwana loyo olahlekelwe yipilo yakhe ngebanga lami uzayifumana.” (Matewu 16:25) Asifuni ukufa. Kodwana nesingalinga ukuphulusa ukuphila kwethu ngokuphula umthetho kaZimu, sizokuba sengozini yokulahlekelwa kuphila okungapheliko. Senza ngokuhlakanipha nesibeka ithemba lethu ekulungeni komthetho kaZimu, sinokuqiniseka okukhulu kokobana nekungenzeka sife namtjhana ngayiphi indlela, uMuphi wokuPhila kwethu uzosikhumbula lokha nekavusa abantu abahlongakeleko begodu asibuyisele isipho sokuphila esiligugu.—Jwanisi 5:28, 29; KumaHebheru 11:6.

¹⁶ Namhlanje, iinceku zakaZimu ezithembekileko ngesibindi zenza isiqunto sokulandela ilayelo lakhe malungana neengazi. Angekhe zizidle namtjhana ngayiphi indlela, ngitjho nokulatjhwa ngazo.* Ziyaqiniseka bonyana uMbumbi weengazi uyakwazi okuzilungeleko. Uyakholelwa bona uyakwazi?

OKUKUPHELA KWENDLELA ENQOPHILEKO YOKUBEREGISWA KWEENGAZI

¹⁷ UMthetho kaMosisi wagandelela indlela yinye enqophileko yokuberegisa iingazi. Malungana nokukhulekela egade kufuneka kuma-Israyeli wekadeni uJehova wathi: “Umphefumulo [namtjhana ukuphila] kwenyama useengazini, begodu mina ngokwami ngiwufake e-aldare bona nenze ukubuyisana kwemiphefumulo yenu, ngombana ziingazi ezenza ukubuyisana nomphefumulo.” (Lefitikosi 17:11) Lokha ama-Israyeli nekonako, bekangafumana ukulitjalelwa ngokwenza umnikelo ngesilwana begodu athathe ingcenye yeengazi ayifake e-aldare etabarnakele namtjhana ngokukhamba kwesikhathi etempelini lakaZimu. Ukuberegiswa kweengazi okunqophileko bekusemihlatjelweni enjalo kwaphela.

¹⁸ AmaKrestu wamambala awasekho ngaphasi koMthetho kaMosisi begodu ngalokho akenzi imihlatjelo ngeenlwana abeke iingazi zeenlwana e-aldare. (KumaHebheru 10:1) Nokho, ukuberegiswa kweengazi e-aldare ngeenkhathi zamaIsrayeli wekadeni kwatjengisa kusese ngaphambili emhlatjelweni oligugu—weNdodana kaZimu, uJesu Krestu. Njengombana sifundile eSahlukweni sesi-5 sencwadi le, uJesu wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe kobuntu ngebanga lethu ngokuvumela iingazi zakhe zibe mhlatjelo. Ngemva kwalokho wanyukela ezulwini, wanikela ngeengazi zakhe eziligugu kuZimu kwaba kanye kwaphela. (KumaHebheru 9:11, 12) Lokhu kwasinikela ithuba lokulitjalelwa izono zethu kwasivulela indlela yokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko. (Matewu 20:28; Jwanisi 3:16) Ukuberegiswa kweengazi okunjalo kuqakatheke khulu. (1 KaPitrosi 1:18, 19) Singafumana ukuphuluswa kwaphela ngokuba nekholo eengazini zakaJesu ezaphalakako.

¹⁹ Singamthokoza khulu uJehova uZimu ngesipho sethando esikuphila! Begodu lokhu akufuneki kusikhuthaze na bona sitjele abanye ngethuba lokufumana ukuphila okungapheliko esisekelweni sekholo emhlatjelweni kaJesu? Ukutjengisa ukutlhogomela ukuphila kwabantu njengoZimu kuzosenza bona sitjele abanye ngokuncama ngeendabezi. (Ezekiyeli 3:17-21) Nengabe senza lokhu ngokuzimisela sizozizwa ngendlela umpostoli uPowula azizwa ngayo: “Ngihlwengile eengazini zabo boke abantu, ngombana akhenge nginifihlele litho ngoZimu.” (IZenzo 20:26, 27, NW) Ukutjela abantu ngoZimu neminqopho yakhe kuyindlela ehle yokutjengisa bona sikuthathela phezulu ukuphila neengazi.

*  Ukufumana imininingwana yezinye iindlela zokulapha ngaphandle kokupontjelwa iingazi, qala amakhasi-13-17 wencwajana ethi Igazi Lingakusindisa Kanjani Ukuphila Kwakho? (efumaneka ngesiZulu) egadangiswe boFakazi bakaJehova