1-3. Yimiphi imibuzo abantu abayibuzayo ngokufa, futhi yiziphi izimpendulo ezinikezwa izinkolo ezihlukahlukene?

LENA imibuzo abantu abaye bazibuza yona izinkulungwane zeminyaka. Iyimibuzo ebalulekile. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi singobani noma sihlalaphi, izimpendulo zithinta ngamunye wethu.

² Esahlukweni esandulele, sixoxe ngokuthi umhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu Kristu wayivula kanjani indlela eya ekuphileni okuphakade. Sifunde nangokuthi iBhayibheli libikezela isikhathi lapho ‘ukufa kungeke kusaba khona.’ (IsAmbulo 21:4) Kodwa okwamanje sonke siyafa. Inkosi ehlakaniphile uSolomoni yathi: “Abaphilayo bayazi ukuthi bayokufa.” (UmShumayeli 9:5) Sizama ukuphila isikhathi eside ngangokunokwenzeka. Noma kunjalo, siyazibuza ukuthi kuyokwenzekani kithina lapho sifa.

³ Lapho abathandekayo bethu befa, siyadabuka. Futhi singase sizibuze: ‘Kwenzekeni kubo? Ingabe bayahlupheka? Basibhekile yini? Singabasiza? Siyoke siphinde sibabone?’ Izinkolo zomhlaba zinikeza izimpendulo ezingafani kule mibuzo. Ezinye zifundisa ukuthi uma ulungile uyoya ezulwini, kodwa uma ungumuntu omubi uyokusha esihogweni. Ezinye izinkolo zifundisa ukuthi lapho umuntu efa, udlulela endaweni yemimoya ukuze abe nokhokho bakhe.  Kanti ezinye zifundisa ukuthi abafileyo baya ezweni labafile bayokwahlulelwa bese bezalwa kabusha komunye umzimba.

4. Yimuphi umqondo ofanayo izinkolo eziningi eziwufundisayo mayelana nokufa?

⁴ Izimfundiso zenkolo ezinjalo zinomqondo owodwa ofanayo—wokuthi ingxenye ethile kithina iyasinda lapho umzimba ufa. Cishe zonke izinkolo, ezasendulo nezamanje, zifundisa ukuthi ngandlela-thile siyaqhubeka siphila phakade, sibona, sizwa futhi sicabanga. Kodwa kungenzeka kanjani lokhu? Yingqondo eyenza izinzwa zethu kanye nemicabango yethu kusebenze. Lapho sifa, ingqondo iyayeka ukusebenza. Izinkumbulo, imizwelo, nezinzwa zethu akuqhubeki kusebenza ngendlela ethile eyimfihlakalo. Lezi zinto azibe zisasebenza lapho ingqondo yethu ifa.

5, 6. IBhayibheli lifundisani ngesimo sabafileyo?

⁵ Lokho okwenzekayo lapho umuntu efa akuyona imfihlakalo kuJehova, uMdali wengqondo. Uyalazi iqiniso, futhi eZwini lakhe iBhayibheli, uyasichazela ngesimo sabafileyo. Imfundiso yalo ecacile yile: Lapho umuntu efa, akabe esaba khona. Ukufa kuphambene nokuphila. Abafileyo ababoni, abezwa futhi abacabangi lutho. Ayikho neyodwa ingxenye yethu esindayo lapho kufa umzimba. Asinawo umoya noma umphefumulo ongafi. *

⁶ Ngemva kokuba uSolomoni ethe abaphilayo bayazi ukuthi bazokufa, wabhala: “Abafileyo bona abazi lutho.” Wabe esegcizelela leli qiniso ngokuba athi abafileyo abakwazi ukubonisa uthando noma inzondo futhi “akukho msebenzi namacebo nalwazi nakuhlakanipha [ethuneni].” (UmShumayeli 9:5, 6, 10) Ngokufanayo, iHubo 146:4 lithi lapho umuntu efa, ‘imicabango yakhe iyashabalala.’ Siyafa futhi akukho  okusindayo kithi lapho umzimba ufa. Ukuphila esinakho kufana nelangabi lekhandlela. Lapho ilangabi licinywa, aliyi ndawo. Lisuke lingasekho.

7. UJesu wakuchaza kanjani ukufa?

⁷ UJesu Kristu wakhuluma ngesimo sabafileyo. Ngelinye ilanga wezwa ukuthi uLazaru, umuntu ayemazi kahle kakhulu, manje wayesefile. UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “ULazaru umngane wethu uye kophumula.” Abafundi bakaJesu bacabanga ukuthi usho ukuthi uLazaru uzicambalalele ukuze alulame ekuguleni kwakhe. Babeshaye phansi. Wachaza: “ULazaru ufile.” (Johane 11:11-14) Phawula ukuthi uJesu wafanisa ukufa nokuphumula nokulala. ULazaru wayengekho ezulwini noma esihogweni esivutha umlilo. Akazange ahlangane nezingelosi noma nokhokho bakhe. ULazaru akazalwanga kabusha waba omunye umuntu. Wayephumule ekufeni, njengokungathi ulele zwí ubuthongo obungenamaphupho. Ikhona neminye imibhalo efanisa ukufa nokulala. Ngokwesibonelo, ngenkathi uJesu evusa indodakazi kaJayiru, wathi “ayifile ilele.” (Luka 8:52, 53) Umphostoli uPawulu naye wakhuluma ngabathile bosuku lwakhe abase ‘belele’.—1 Korinte 15:6.

8. Sazi kanjani ukuthi kwakungeyona injongo kaNkulunkulu ukuba abantu bafe?

⁸ Ingabe kwakuyinjongo kaNkulunkulu ukuba abantu bafe? Lutho! UJehova wadala umuntu ukuba aphile phakade emhlabeni. Njengoba sesifundile kule ncwadi, uNkulunkulu wabeka abantu ababili bokuqala epharadesi elihle. Wababusisa ngempilo ephelele. UJehova wayebafunela  okuhle kodwa. Ukhona yini umzali onothando ofuna izingane zakhe zizwe ubuhlungu bokuguga nokufa? Akekho! UJehova wayezithanda izingane zakhe futhi wayefuna zijabule phakade emhlabeni. IBhayibheli lithi ngabantu: ‘[UJehova] ufake ngisho nobuphakade ezinhliziyweni zabo.’ (UmShumayeli 3:11) UNkulunkulu wasidala saba nesifiso sokuphila phakade futhi usivulele indlela yokuba leso sifiso sigcwaliseke.

9. Yimuphi umbandela uJehova awubekela u-Adamu, futhi kungani kwakungenzima ukuwulalela?

⁹ Pho, kungani abantu befa? Ukuze sithole impendulo, kudingeka sicabange ngalokho okwenzeka lapho kusekhona indoda eyodwa nowesifazane oyedwa emhlabeni. IBhayibheli liyachaza: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wenza ukuba kumile emhlabathini yonke imithi efiselekayo emehlweni omuntu nefanelekele ukudliwa.” (Genesise 2:9) Nokho kwakunombandela owodwa. UJehova watshela u-Adamu: “Kuyo yonke imithi yensimu ungadla usuthe. Kodwa ngokuqondene nomuthi wolwazi lokuhle nokubi ungadli kuwo, ngoba ngosuku oyodla ngalo kuwo uyokufa nokufa.” (Genesise 2:16, 17) Kwakungenzima ukulalela lo myalo. Kwakunenqwaba yeminye imithi u-Adamu no-Eva ababengadla kuyo. Kodwa manje base benethuba elikhethekile lokubonisa ukubonga kwabo kuLowo owayebanike konke ababenakho, kuhlanganise nokuphila okuphelele. Ukulalela kwabo kwakuyobonisa nokuthi bayalihlonipha igunya likaYise wasezulwini nokuthi bayasifuna isiqondiso sakhe sothando.

10, 11. (a) Kwenzeka kanjani ukuba abantu bokuqala ababili bangamlaleli uNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani ukungalaleli kuka-Adamu no-Eva kwakuyindaba embi kakhulu?

¹⁰ Ngokudabukisayo, la bantu bokuqala ababili bakhetha ukungamlaleli uJehova. Esebenzisa inyoka ukuze akhulume no-Eva, uSathane wambuza: “Ingabe uNkulunkulu ushilo ngempela ukuthi akumelwe nidle kuyo yonke imithi yensimu?” U-Eva waphendula: “Singazidla izithelo zemithi yensimu. Kodwa ngokuqondene nokudla izithelo zomuthi ophakathi nensimu, uNkulunkulu uthé, ‘Ningadli kuwo, cha, ningawuthinti ukuze ningafi.’”—Genesise 3:1-3.

¹¹ “Ngokuqinisekile ngeke nife,” kusho uSathane. “UNkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi ngalo kanye usuku enidla ngalo kuwo nakanjani amehlo enu ayovuleka futhi nakanjani niyoba njengoNkulunkulu, nazi okuhle nokubi.” (Genesise 3:4, 5) USathane wayefuna ukuba u-Eva akholelwe  ukuthi wayeyozuza ngokudla isithelo esinqatshelwe. NgokukaSathane, u-Eva wayengazikhethela yena ngokwakhe ukuthi ikuphi okulungile nokungalungile; wayengazenzela akuthandayo. USathane waphinde wasola uJehova ngokuthi wayeqambe amanga ngemiphumela yokudla isithelo. U-Eva wamkholwa uSathane. Ngakho wathatha isithelo wasidla. Wabe esenikeza nomyeni wakhe, naye wasidla. Abenzanga ngoba bengazi. Babazi ukuthi benza khona kanye lokho uNkulunkulu ayethe bangakwenzi. Ngokudla leso sithelo, baweqa ngamabomu umyalo olula nonengqondo ababewunikeziwe. Badelela uYise osezulwini kanye negunya lakhe. Babengenakubeka zaba ngokungamhloniphi okunjalo uMdali wabo onothando!

12. Yini engasisiza ukuba siqonde ukuthi uJehova wazizwa kanjani lapho u-Adamu no-Eva bekhetha inkambo yokuphikisana naye?

 ¹² Ake sifanekise: Ubungazizwa kanjani uma, ngemva kokukhulisa nokondla indodana yakho noma indodakazi, kuthi lapho isikhulile ingakulaleli, ibonise ukuthi ayikuhloniphi nakancane noma ayikuthandi? Ubuyokuzwa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Cabanga-ke ukuthi uJehova wezwa ubuhlungu obungakanani lapho bobabili u-Adamu no-Eva bekhetha inkambo yokuphikisana naye.

13. Yini uJehova athi yayiyokwenzeka ku-Adamu lapho efa, futhi kusho ukuthini lokho?

¹³ Sasingekho isizathu sokuba uJehova abayeke baphile phakade o-Adamu no-Eva abangalaleli. Bafa, njengoba nje ayebatshelile. U-Adamu no-Eva ababange besaba khona. Abadlulelanga endaweni ethile yemimoya. Lokhu sikwazi ngalokho uJehova akusho ku-Adamu ngemva kokweqa umyalo. UNkulunkulu wathi: “[Uzobuyela] emhlabathini, ngoba wathathwa kuwo. Ngoba uluthuli, uyobuyela othulini.” (Genesise 3:19) UNkulunkulu wayenze u-Adamu ngothuli lomhlabathi. (Genesise 2:7) Ngaphambi kwalokho, u-Adamu wayengekho. Ngakho, lapho uJehova ethi u-Adamu uzobuyela othulini, wayesho ukuthi u-Adamu uzobuyela esimweni sokungabi khona. U-Adamu wayeyofana nothuli ayedalwe ngalo—into engaphili.

14. Kungani sifa?

¹⁴ U-Adamu no-Eva ngabe basaphila namuhla, kodwa bafa ngoba bakhetha ukungamlaleli uNkulunkulu, kanjalo bona. Nathi siyafa ngoba isono sika-Adamu nokufa kuye kwadluliselwa kuyo yonke inzalo yakhe. (Roma 5:12) Leso sono sifana nesifo esibi esitholakala ngofuzo okungekho muntu ongaphunyuka kuso. Ukufa, okuwumphumela waleso sono, kuyisiqalekiso. Ukufa kuyisitha, akuyena umngane. (1 Korinte 15:26) Yeka ukuthi sibonga kanjani ngokuthi uJehova wasilungiselela isihlengo ukuze asisindise kulesi sitha esesabeka kangaka!

15. Kungani kududuza ukwazi iqiniso ngokufa?

¹⁵ Kuyaduduza ukwazi lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngesimo sabafileyo. Njengoba sesibonile, abafileyo ababuzwa ubuhlungu futhi abakhathazeki. Asikho isidingo sokubesaba ngoba ngeke basilimaze. Abaludingi usizo lwethu futhi nabo ngeke basisiza. Asinakukhuluma nabo, nabo abakwazi ukukhuluma nathi. Abaholi abaningi benkolo baqamba amanga bathi bangakwazi ukusiza asebefile, bese abantu ababakholelwayo labo baholi babanike imali. Kodwa ukwazi iqiniso kuyasivikela ekukhohlisweni abantu abafundisa amanga anjalo.

16. Ubani oye wonakalisa izimfundiso zezinkolo eziningi, futhi usebenzisani?

¹⁶ Ingabe inkolo yakho iyavumelana nalokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngabafileyo? Eziningi azivumelani. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi izimfundiso zazo zonakaliswe uSathane. Usebenzisa inkolo yamanga ukuze enze abantu bakholelwe ukuthi ngemva kokufa kwemizimba yabo, bayoqhubeka bephila endaweni yemimoya. Lawa amanga uSathane awahlanganisa namanye ukuze achezukise abantu kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Kanjani?

17. Kungani imfundiso yokuhlushwa phakade ihlazisa uJehova?

¹⁷ Njengoba kuphawuliwe ngaphambili, ezinye izinkolo zifundisa ukuthi uma umuntu emubi, lapho esefile uyokuya esihogweni ahlushwe khona phakade. Le mfundiso ihlazisa uNkulunkulu. UJehova unguNkulunkulu wothando futhi akasoze enza abantu ukuba bahlupheke ngaleyo ndlela. (1 Johane 4:8) Ubungazizwa kanjani ngendoda ejezisa ingane engalaleli ngokufaka isandla sayo emlilweni? Ubungayihlonipha leyo ndoda? Empeleni, ubungathanda nokuyazi? Phinde! Cishe ubungacabanga ukuthi inenhliziyo embi. USathane ufuna sikholelwe ukuthi uJehova uhlupha abantu emlilweni phakade—izigidigidi zeminyaka!

18. Ukukhulekela abafileyo kusekelwe kumaphi amanga enkolo?

 ¹⁸ USathane futhi usebenzisa ezinye izinkolo ukuze afundise ukuthi uma abantu sebefile baba imimoya okumelwe ihlonishwe futhi idunyiswe abaphilayo. Ngokwale mfundiso, imimoya yabafileyo ingaba abangane abanamandla noma izitha ezimbi. Abantu abaningi bayawakholelwa la manga. Bayabesaba abafileyo futhi bayabadumisa, babakhonze. Ngokuphambene nalokhu, iBhayibheli lifundisa ukuthi abafileyo balele futhi lithi kumelwe sikhulekele uNkulunkulu weqiniso kuphela, uJehova, uMdali noMondli wethu.—IsAmbulo 4:11.

19. Ukwazi iqiniso ngabafileyo kusisiza ukuba siqonde yiphi enye imfundiso yeBhayibheli?

¹⁹ Ukwazi iqiniso ngabafileyo kuyakuvikela ekukhohlisweni amanga enkolo. Kuyakusiza futhi ukuba uqonde ezinye izimfundiso zeBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, uma sewazi ukuthi abantu abadluleli endaweni yemimoya lapho befa, isithembiso sokuphila phakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi siba ngokoqobo kuwe.

20. Yimuphi umbuzo esizowuphendula esahlukweni esilandelayo?

²⁰ Kudala, indoda elungileyo uJobe yaphakamisa lo mbuzo: “Uma indoda enamandla ifa ingabuye iphile futhi?” (Jobe 14:14) Ingabe umuntu ongaphili, olele ekufeni angabuye abuyiselwe ekuphileni? Lokho iBhayibheli elikufundisayo ngalokhu kuyaduduza ngempela, njengoba isahluko esilandelayo sizobonisa.