1, 2. (a) Ubomi babantu abaninzi busindiswe sisiphi isilumkiso? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.) (b) Luluphi ukhokelo abanalo abantu bakaThixo olunokusindisa ubomi babo?

“YIMA, JONGA, PHULAPHULA.” La mazwi ayebhalwe kwiibhodi ezikwindawo yokuwela isiporo sikaloliwe eMntla Merika ukususela kwiminyaka engaphezu kweyi-100 eyadlulayo. Ngoba? Ukuze iimoto zingatshayiswa nguloliwe xa ziwela apho esiporweni. Ukunikela ingqalelo kwezi bhodi zezilumkiso kusindise ubomi babantu abaninzi.

² UYehova usinika okungcono kuneebhodi zezilumkiso. Uyabakhokela abantu bakhe ukuze bakwazi ukufumana ubomi obungunaphakade nokuze basinde kwiingozi. UYehova ufana nomalusi onothando owalusa nokhusela izimvu zakhe ukuze ziphephe iindlela eziyingozi.—Funda uIsaya 30:20, 21.

3. Abantu bangena njani kwindlela esa ekufeni?

³ Kwasekuqaleni kwembali, uYehova ebesoloko enika abantu imiyalelo okanye ulwalathiso. Ngokomzekelo, emyezweni wase Eden, uYehova wakhupha umyalelo ocacileyo  owawuza kukhokelela abantu kubomi obungunaphakade nolonwabo. (Genesis 2:15-17) Kodwa uAdam noEva balugatya ulwalathiso oluvela kuBawo onothando. UEva waphulaphula icebiso elalivela enyokeni, yaye yena uAdam waphulaphula umfazi wakhe. Waba yintoni umphumo? Bobani bangena entlungwini, yaye bafa bengenathemba. Kwakhona, ngenxa yokungathobeli kwabo, bonke abantu bangena kwindlela esa ekufeni.

4. (a) Kutheni kwakufuneka ulwalathiso olutsha emva koMkhukula? (b) Ukutshintsha kwemeko kwayityhila njani indlela uThixo abujonga ngayo ubomi?

⁴ UThixo wanika uNowa ulwalathiso olwasindisa ubomi babantu. Emva komkhukula, uYehova wayalela abantu ukuba bangatyi okanye basele igazi. Ngoba? Kuba ngoku uYehova wayeza kuvumela abantu ukuba batye inyama. Ngoko, ngenxa yokutshintsha kweemeko, babeza kudinga ulwalathiso olutsha: “Kuphela yinyama enomphefumlo wayo—igazi layo—eningamele niyidle.” (Genesis 9:1-4) Ngokusuka kulo myalelo sifunda indlela uThixo abujonga ngayo ubomi. Nguye uMdali, yaye usinike ubomi, ngoko unelungelo lokusibekela imithetho ngabo. Ngokomzekelo, wayalela ukuba abantu bangabulalani. UThixo ugqala ubomi njengobungcwele, yaye uya kumgweba nabani na obusebenzisa kakubi.—Genesis 9:5, 6.

5. Siza kuthetha ngantoni ngoku, yaye ngoba?

⁵ Emva kwemihla kaNowa, uThixo waqhubeka ebakhokela abantu bakhe. Kweli nqaku, siza kuthetha ngemizekelo embalwa yendlela awabakhokela ngayo. Olu hlolisiso luza komeleza isigqibo sethu sokulandela ulwalathiso lukaYehova kude kuse kwihlabathi elitsha.

6. Kutheni kwakuyimfuneko ngabantu bakaThixo ukuba bawuthobele umthetho owawunikwe uMoses, yaye sisiphi isimo sengqondo ababemele babe naso?

⁶ Ngemihla kaMoses, uYehova wanika abantu bakhe imiyalelo ecacileyo ngendlela ababemele baziphathe nababemele banqule ngayo. Ngoba? Kuba iimeko zazitshintshile kwakhona. Ngaphezu kweminyaka engamakhulu amabini, amaSirayeli ayengamakhoboka eYiputa, apho bonke abantu babenqula abafi, benqula izithixo yaye besenza nezinye izinto ezininzi ezazingamkholisi uThixo. Xa abantu bakaThixo bakhululwayo eYiputa, babedinga imiyalelo emitsha. Babeza kuba luhlanga oluthobela kuphela umthetho kaYehova. Ezinye iincwadi zeembekiselo zithi, igama lesiHebhere elithi “umthetho” linxulumene negama elithetha “ukwalathisa, ukukhokela, ukuyalela.” Umthetho wawuwakhusela amaSirayeli ekuziphatheni okubi nakunqulo lobuxoki lweentlanga ezaziwangqongile. Xa amaSirayeli emphulaphula uThixo, wayewasikelela. Xa engamphulaphuli, ayefumana imiphumo ebuhlungu.—Funda iDuteronomi 28:1, 2, 15.

7. (a) Cacisa ukuba kwakutheni ukuze uYehova anike abantu bakhe imiyalelo. (b) UMthetho wawungumkhapheli njani kumaSirayeli?

⁷ Kwakukho nesinye isizathu sokuba kufuneke imiyalelo emitsha. UMthetho wawulungiselela amaSirayeli isihlandlo esibalulekileyo kwinjongo kaYehova, ukuza kukaMesiya, uYesu Kristu. UMthetho wawuwakhumbuza ukuba ayengafezekanga. Wawuwanceda aqonde ukuba ayedinga intlawulelo, idini eligqibeleleyo elaliza kususa izono  zawo ngokupheleleyo. (Galati 3:19; Hebhere 10:1-10) Ukongezelela, uMthetho wawukhusela umnombo kaMesiya yaye wanceda amaSirayeli ukuba akwazi ukumqonda xa efikile. Ewe, uMthetho wawusisikhokelo sokwexeshana okanye ‘umkhapheli’ okhokelela kuKristu.—Galati 3:23, 24.

8. Kutheni simele salathiswe yimigaqo yoMthetho kaMoses?

⁸ NjengamaKristu, nathi sinako ukungenelwa kwimiyalelo uYehova awayigqithisa ngoMthetho. Ngayiphi indlela? Singema size sijonge imigaqo osekelwe kuyo uMthetho. Nangona singasekho phantsi kwaloo mithetho, sisenako ukuthembela kuninzi lwayo njengesikhokelo kubomi bethu bemihla ngemihla nakunqulo lwethu kuYehova. Wenza loo mithetho yabhalwa eBhayibhileni ukuze sifunde kuyo, salathiswe yimigaqo yayo, nokuze sibe nombulelo wokuba uYesu esifundise okungaphezu koMthetho. Phulaphula oko kwathethwa nguYesu xa wathi: “Nivile ukuba kwathiwa, ‘Uze ungakrexezi.’ Kodwa mna ndithi kuni wonk’ ubani oqhubeka ekhangela umfazi ngokokude amkhanuke sele emkrexezile entliziyweni yakhe.” Ngoko akwanelanga ukuphepha izenzo zohenyuzo kuphela, kodwa sikwamele sizigatye iingcinga neminqweno engafanelekanga.—Mateyu 5:27, 28.

9. Ziziphi iimeko ezabangela ukuba kufuneke ulwalathiso olutsha olusuka kuThixo?

⁹ Emva kokufika kukaYesu njengoMesiya, uYehova wadlulisela imiyalelo emitsha waza wayityhila ngakumbi injongo yakhe. Kutheni kwakuyimfuneko oko? Ngonyaka ka-33, uYehova walugatya uhlanga lwamaSirayeli waza wakhetha ibandla lamaKristu njengabantu bakhe. Ngoko iimeko zabantu bakaThixo zazitshintshile kwakhona.

10. Kwakutheni ukuze ibandla lamaKristu linikwe imithetho emitsha, ibe yayahluke njani kuleyo yayinikwe amaSirayeli?

¹⁰ UYehova wanika amaSirayeli uMthetho kaMoses ukuze awafundise indlela yokuphila neyokumnqula. Ukususela ngenkulungwane yokuqala, abantu baThixo babengelohlanga lunye, kodwa babeziintlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo, beneemvelaphi ezingafaniyo, yaye babebizwa ngokuba nguSirayeli wokomoya. Babebumba ibandla lamaKristu, yaye bephantsi komnqophiso omtsha. UYehova wabanika imiyalelo emitsha okanye eyongezelelekileyo yendlela ababemele baphile baze bamkhonze ngayo. Ngenene, “uThixo akakhethi buso, kodwa kwiintlanga zonke umntu omoyikayo aze asebenze ubulungisa wamkelekile kuye.” (IZenzo 10:34, 35) Babelandela “umthetho kaKristu,” owawusekelwe ngokuyintloko kwimigaqo eyayingabhalwanga ematyeni, kodwa ezintliziyweni zabo. Lo mthetho wawuza kuwakhokela amaKristu nokuba ayehlala phi.—Galati 6:2.

11. Ziziphi iinxalenye ezimbini zobomi bamaKristu ezaziza kuchatshazelwa “ngumthetho kaKristu”?

¹¹ USirayeli wokomoya wangenelwa kakhulu kukhokelo lukaYehova ngoYesu. Ngaphambi kokuba asungule umnqophiso omtsha, uYesu wadlulisela imiyalelo emibini ebalulekileyo. Omnye wawungowokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela. Ukanti omnye wawuphathelele indlela amaKristu amele aphile aze aphathane ngayo. Le miyalelo yayichaphazela onke  amaKristu, ngoko nathi namhlanje iyasichaphazela, enoba sinethemba lokuphila ngonaphakade ezulwini okanye emhlabeni.

12. Yintoni eyayintsha ngomsebenzi wokushumayela?

¹² Mandulo, abantu beentlanga babemele baye kwaSirayeli ukuze banqule uYehova. (1 Kumkani 8:41-43) Kodwa uYesu wadlulisela umyalelo esiwufumana kuMateyu 28:19, 20. (Yifunde.) UYesu wayalela abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘bahambe’ baye kubantu bonke. NgePentekoste yonyaka ka-33, uYehova wabonisa ukuba ufuna iindaba ezilungileyo zishunyayelwe emhlabeni wonke. Ngaloo mini, amalungu ebandla elitsha amalunga ne-120 azaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele, yaye aqalisa ukuthetha iilwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo kumaYuda nakubantu beentlanga. (IZenzo 2:4-11) Kamva imimandla ayeshumayela kuyo, yanda yaza yaquka namaSamariya. Kwakhona ngonyaka ka-36, yaphinda yanda yaquka neeNtlanga ezingolungakanga. Oku kwakuthetha ukuba amaKristu ayemele aye kushumayela kuwo wonke umntu osemhlabeni!

13, 14. (a) Yintoni ebandakanyekileyo ‘kumyalelo omtsha’ kaYesu? (b) Yintoni esiyifundayo kumzekelo kaYesu?

¹³ UYesu waphinda wamisela “umyalelo omtsha” wendlela abazalwana noodade ababemele baphathane ngayo. (Funda uYohane 13:34, 35.) Simele sibabonise uthando imihla ngemihla, futhi simele sikulungele ukuncama ubomi bethu ngenxa yabo. Loo nto yayingabhalwanga eMthethweni.—Mateyu 22:39; 1 Yohane 3:16.

¹⁴ UYesu ungoyena mzekelo mkhulu womntu owabonisa olo thando lokuzincama. Wayebathanda abafundi bakhe kangangokuba wabafela ngokuzithandela. Ulindele ukuba bonke abalandeli bakhe benze okufanayo. Ngoko simele sikulungele ukunyamezela iimeko ezinzima, side sibafele abazalwana noodadewethu.—1 Tesalonika 2:8.

15, 16. Zitshintshe njani iimeko zethu, yaye uThixo usalathisa njani ngoku?

¹⁵ UYesu umisele ‘ikhoboka elithembekileyo neliyingqondi’ ukuze linike abalandeli bakhe ‘ukutya kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo.’ (Mateyu 24:45-47) Oku kutya kuquka imiyalelo ebalulekileyo kubantu bakaThixo xa kuvela iimeko ezahlukileyo. Zitshintshe njani iimeko zethu ngoku?

¹⁶ Siphila ‘kwimihla yokugqibela’ yaye kungekudala siza kutyhubela imbandezelo engazange ibekho ngaphambili. (2 Timoti 3:1: Marko 13:19) Kwakhona, uSathana needemon zakhe baphoselwe phantsi emhlabeni, yaye babangela iintlungu eluntwini. (ISityhilelo 12:9, 12) Ukongezelela, sithobela umyalelo kaYesu wokushumayela emhlabeni wonke, kubantu abangakumbi nangeelwimi ezingakumbi kunangaphambili!

17, 18. Simele sisabele njani kulwalathiso esilufumanayo?

¹⁷ Intlangano kaThixo isinika izixhobo ezininzi ukuze zisincede kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngaba uyazisebenzisa? Ezintlanganisweni sifumana ulwalathiso ngendlela esimele sizisebenzise ngayo. Ngaba ulugqala olu lwalathiso njengolusuka kuThixo?

¹⁸ Ukuze sifumane intsikelo kaThixo, simele sinikele ingqalelo kulo lonke ulwathiso asinika lona ngebandla lamaKristu.  Ukuba sithobela ngoku, kuya kuba lula ukulandela ulwalathiso esiza kulufumana ebudeni ‘bembandezelo enkulu,’ xa lonke ihlabathi likaSathana liya kutshatyalaliswa. (Mateyu 24:21) Emva koko, siya kudinga imiyalelo emitsha yokuphila kwihlabathi lobulungisa eliya kube lingenayo impembelelo kaSathana.

19, 20. Yiyiphi imisongo eya kuvulwa, yaye uya kuba yintoni umphumo?

¹⁹ Ngemihla kaMoses, uhlanga lwamaSirayeli lwaludinga imiyalelo emitsha, ngoko uThixo walunika uMthetho. Kamva, ibandla lamaKristu kwafuneka lilandele “umthetho kaKristu.” Ngendlela efanayo, iBhayibhile ithi kwihlabathi elitsha siza kufumana imisongo enemiyalelo emitsha. (Funda iSityhilelo 20:12.) Ngokuqinisekileyo, le misongo iya kucacisa ukuba uYehova ulindele ntoni kuluntu ngelo xesha. Ngokuyifundisisa, bonke abantu, kuquka nabavusiweyo, baya kwazi ukuba yintoni uThixo afuna bayenze. Le misongo iya kusinceda sifunde ngakumbi ngendlela uYehova acinga ngayo. Siya kuyiqonda nangakumbi iBhayibhile, ngoko sonke eParadesi siya kuphathana ngothando, ngentlonelo, nangesidima. (Isaya 26:9) Khawucinge ngezinto ezininzi esiya kuzifunda, nesiya kuzifundisa abanye phantsi kokhokelo loKumkani uYesu Kristu!

²⁰ Ukuba siyalulandela ulwalathiso ‘olubhalwe kuloo misongo’ yaye sizigcina sithembekile kuYehova ebudeni bovavanyo lokugqibela, uya kuwabhala ngokusisigxina amagama ethu ‘kumsongo wobomi.’ Siya kufumana ubomi obungunaphakade! Ngoko simele SIME ukuze sifunde oko iBhayibhile ikuthethayo, SIJONGE ukuze siqonde indlela okusichaphazela ngayo, yaye SIPHULAPHULE ngokuthi sithobele ukhokelo lukaThixo ngoku. Ukuba siyazenza ezi zinto, siya kusinda kwimbandezelo enkulu size sinandiphe ukufunda ngoThixo wethu onobulumko noluthando uYehova, ngonaphakade.—INtshumayeli 3:11; Roma 11:33.