1. Uba yini umphumela lapho sizindla ngesithembiso sikaJehova sokuphila okuphakade?

 UJEHOVA uthembisa ukuthi labo abamlalelayo bayothola “ukuphila okuphakade.” (Roma 6:23) Lapho sizindla ngalokho uJehova asithembisa kona, simthanda nakakhulu. Cabanga ngalokhu: UBaba wethu osezulwini usithanda kakhulu kangangokuba asisoze sahlukaniswa naye.

2. Isithembiso sokuphila okuphakade sisisiza kanjani?

² Isithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuphila okuphakade sisisiza sikhuthazelele uvivinyo esibhekene nalo manje. Ngisho noma izitha zethu zisesabisa ngokuthi zizosibulala, ngeke siyeke ukukhonza uJehova. Kungani? Esinye isizathu ukuthi siyazi ukuthi uma sifa sithembekile kuJehova, uyosivusa sinethemba lokuthi ngeke siphinde sife. (Joh. 5:28, 29; 1 Kor. 15:55-58; Heb. 2:15) Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi singakwazi ukuphila phakade? Cabanga ngalezi zizathu ezilandelayo.

3. Kungani singaqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukusigcina siphila kuze kube phakade? (IHubo 102:12, 24, 27)

³ Siyazi ukuthi uJehova uyakwazi ukusigcina siphila kuze kube phakade ngoba unguMthombo wokuphila futhi yena uyophila kuze kube phakade. (IHu. 36:9) Phawula amavesi eBhayibheli ambalwa asiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova ubelokhu ekhona futhi uyohlale ekhona. IHubo 90:2 lithi uJehova ubelokhu ekhona “kusukela phakade kuze kube phakade.” IHubo 102 lisho okufanayo. (Funda iHubo 102:12, 24, 27.) Ngokuphathelene noBaba wethu osezulwini, umprofethi uHabakuki wabhala: “Awuyena yini owaphakade Jehova? O Nkulunkulu wami, oNgcwele wami, wena awufi.”​—Hab. 1:12.

4. Kufanele yini sikhathazeke uma kunzima ukuqonda ukuthi uJehova ubelokhu ekhona? Chaza.

 ⁴ Ingabe ukuthola kunzima ukuqonda ukuthi uJehova ubelokhu ekhona kusukela “phakade”? (Isaya 40:28) Abantu abaningi bakuthola kunzima ukukuqonda lokhu. U-Elihu wathi ngoNkulunkulu: “Iminyaka yakhe ayinakubalwa.” (Jobe 36:26) Kodwa ukuthi into ethile asiyiqondi, akusho ukuthi ayilona iqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba singaqondi ngokugcwele ukuthi amandla adonsela phansi asebenza kanjani, ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi awekho? Lutho neze! Ngendlela efanayo, thina bantu asisoze saqonda ngokugcwele ukuthi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba uJehova abe khona kusukela phakade nokuthi uyohlale ekhona kuze kube phakade. Kodwa lokhu akusho ukuthi uNkulunkulu akaphili kuze kube phakade. Iqiniso eliphathelene noMdali alixhomekile ezintweni esiziqondayo nesingaziqondi. (Roma 11:33-36) Ngaphandle kwalokho, ubelokhu ekhona ngaphambi kokuba kube khona izulu nomhlaba​—okuhlanganisa ilanga nezinkanyezi. UJehova usiqinisekisa ngokuthi “wenza umhlaba ngamandla akhe.” Yebo, waba khona ngaphambi kokuba ‘elule amazulu.’ (Jer. 51:15; IzE. 17:24) Yisiphi esinye isizathu esisenza siqiniseke ukuthi singakwazi ukuphila kuze kube phakade?

5. Yiliphi ithemba u-Adamu no-Eva ababenalo?

⁵ UJehova wadala izinto eziphilayo emhlabeni ukuba ziphile isikhathi esithile, ngaphandle kwabantu. Bona wabanika ithemba elikhethekile lokungafi. Noma kunjalo, uJehova waxwayisa u-Adamu: “Ngokuqondene nesihlahla sokwazi okuhle nokubi ungadli kuso, ngoba ngosuku oyodla ngalo kuso uyokufa nokufa.” (Gen. 2:17) Ukube u-Adamu no-Eva bamlalela uJehova, ngabe abazange bafe. Kunengqondo ukuphetha ngokuthi ngelinye ilanga uJehova wayeyogcina ebavumele ukuba badle “esihlahleni sokuphila.” Lokhu kwakuyosho ukuthi ubaqinisekise ngokuthi ‘bayophila kuze kube phakade.’ b​—Gen. 3:22.

6-7. (a) Yini enye ebonisa ukuthi abantu babengadalelwanga ukuba bafe? (b) Yiziphi izinto ozithandayo ofisa ukuzenza? (Bheka izithombe.)

⁶ Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi abanye ososayensi bathole ubufakazi bokuthi ubuchopho bethu bungamumatha ukwaziswa okuningi kakhulu kunalokho esingakuthola kukho konke ukuphila kwethu manje. Ngo-2010 isihloko esisephepha-bhukwini i-Scientific American Mind sathi kulinganiselwa ukuthi ubuchopho  bethu bungamumatha ukwaziswa okulingana namahora ayizigidi ezintathu ezinhlelo ze-TV (okuyiminyaka engaphezu kwengu-300). Kungenzeka nokuthi izingqondo zethu zingamumatha okungaphezu kakhulu kwalokho. Lokho kubonisa ukuthi uJehova wenza izingqondo zethu zakwazi ukumumatha ukwaziswa okungaphezu kakhulu kwesikuthola ngeminyaka engu-70 noma engu-80 nje.​—IHu. 90:10.

⁷ UJehova usidale sinesifiso esinamandla sokuqhubeka siphila. Ngokuqondene nabantu, iBhayibheli lithi uNkulunkulu wafaka ‘ubuphakade ezinhliziyweni zabo.’ (UmSh. 3:11) Lesi esinye sezizathu esenza sibheke ukufa njengesitha. (1 Kor. 15:26) Uma sigula kakhulu, ingabe sivele sihlale nje singenzi lutho, silindele ukufa? Cha. Ngokuvamile siya kudokotela, siphuze nemithi ukuze sibe ngcono. Empeleni, senza konke okusemandleni ukuze singafi. Kanti lapho kushona umuntu esimthandayo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi mdala noma mncane, asizizwa yini silimele kakhulu ngaphakathi? (Joh. 11:32, 33) Ngokuqinisekile, uMdali wethu onothando wayengeke asidale sinesifiso sokuphila phakade ukube wayengenayo ngempela injongo yokuba siphile phakade. Kodwa sinezinye izizathu zokukholelwa ukuthi singaphila kuze kube phakade. Ake sixoxe ngezinye izinto uJehova azenza esikhathini esidlule nazenza manje ezibonisa ukuthi injongo yakhe yasekuqaleni ayishintshile.

8. Mayelana nenjongo kaJehova ngathi, u-Isaya 55:11 usiqinisekisa ngani?

⁸ Nakuba u-Adamu no-Eva bona, babangela ukuba izingane zabo zife, uJehova akazange  awushintshe umqondo mayelana nenjongo yakhe. (Funda u-Isaya 55:11.) Kuseyinjongo yakhe ukuba abantu abathembekile baphile kuze kube phakade. Lokho sikwazi ngenxa yezinto uJehova azishilo nazenzile ukuze afeze injongo yakhe.

9. Yini uNkulunkulu ayithembisile? (Daniyeli 12:2, 13)

⁹ UJehova uthembise ukuthi uzovusa abafile, abanike ithuba lokuphila kuze kube phakade. (IzE. 24:15; Thithu 1:1, 2) Indoda ethembekile uJobe yayiqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova uyakulangazelela ukuvusa abafile. (Jobe 14:14, 15) Umprofethi uDaniyeli wayazi ukuthi abantu bangavuswa, bathole ithuba lokuphila kuze kube phakade. (IHu. 37:29; funda uDaniyeli 12:2, 13.) AmaJuda angosuku lukaJesu nawo ayazi ukuthi uJehova wayenganika izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ‘ukuphila okuphakade.’ (Luka 10:25; 18:18) UJesu wakhuluma ngalesi sithembiso ngokuphindaphindiwe futhi naye ngokwakhe wavuswa nguYise.​—Math. 19:29; 22:31, 32; Luka 18:30; Joh. 11:25.

10. Lufakazelani uvuko lwesikhathi esidlule? (Bheka isithombe.)

¹⁰ UJehova unguMniki-kuphila futhi unamandla okuvusa abantu ekufeni. Wanikeza umprofethi u-Eliya amandla okuvusa indodana yomfelokazi waseZarefati. (1 AmaKh. 17:21-23) Kamuva, ngosizo lukaNkulunkulu, umprofethi u-Elisha wavusa indodana yowesifazane waseShunemi. (2 AmaKh. 4:18-20, 34-37) Lezi zibonelo zovuko kanye nezinye zifakazela ukuthi uJehova unawo amandla okuvusa abantu ekufeni. Ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, uJesu wafakazela ukuthi uYise wayemnikile lawo mandla. (Joh. 11:23-25, 43, 44) UJesu usezulwini manje futhi unikezwe “lonke igunya ezulwini nasemhlabeni.” Ngakho, uyokwazi ukugcwalisa isithembiso esithi “bonke abasemathuneni” bayovuswa benethemba lokuphila kuze kube phakade.—Math. 28:18; Joh. 5:25-29.

11. Kungani singathi isihlengo sisinika ithuba lokuthola ukuphila okuphakade?

¹¹ Kungani uJehova avumela ukuba iNdodana yakhe ayithandayo ife kabuhlungu? UJesu wasiveza isizathu, wathi: “UNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangangokuba waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo kuyo angabhubhi kodwa athole ukuphila okuphakade.” (Joh. 3:16) Ngokunikela ngeNdodana yakhe ukuba ibe isihlengo ukuze kuthethelelwe izono zethu, uNkulunkulu usinika ithuba lokuthola ukuphila okuphakade. (Math. 20:28) Echaza le ngxenye ebalulekile yenjongo kaNkulunkulu, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Njengoba ukufa kweza ngomuntu, novuko lwabafile luza ngomuntu. Ngoba njengoba nje bonke befa ku-Adamu, kanjalo nakuKristu bonke bayokwenziwa baphile.”​—1 Kor. 15:21, 22.

12. UMbuso uyosiza kanjani ekufezeni injongo kaJehova ngathi?

¹² UJesu wafundisa abalandeli bakhe ukuba bathandazele ukuba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uze nentando yaKhe yenzeke emhlabeni. (Math. 6:9, 10) Ingxenye yenjongo kaNkulunkulu iwukuba abantu baphile emhlabeni kuze kube phakade. Ukuze ifezeke leyo njongo, wabeka iNdodana yakhe yaba iNkosi yoMbuso kaMesiya. Ubelokhu eqoqa abantu abangu-144 000 emhlabeni ukuze basebenze noJesu ekufezeni intando kaNkulunkulu.​—IsAm. 5:9, 10.

13. Yini uJehova ayenzayo manje, futhi yini wena okufanele uyenze?

¹³ Manje uJehova uqoqela ndawonye “isixuku esikhulu” sabantu futhi uyabaqeqesha ukuba babe yizikhonzi zoMbuso wakhe.  (IsAm. 7:9, 10; Jak. 2:8) Nakuba abantu abakha leli qembu bephila ezweni elihlukaniswe inzondo nezimpi, benza konke okusemandleni ukuze banqobe inzondo ebangelwa ubuzwe nobuhlanga. Ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, bakhanda izinkemba zabo zibe amageja. (Mika 4:3) Kunokuba balwe ezimpini ezibulala abantu abaningi, basiza abantu bathole “ukuphila kwangempela” ngokubafundisa ngoNkulunkulu weqiniso nangezinjongo zakhe. (1 Thim. 6:19) Amalungu omndeni angase abaphikise noma bangase balahlekelwe izimali ngoba besekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, kodwa uJehova uyaqikelela ukuthi bayazithola izinto abazidingayo. (Math. 6:25, 30-33; Luka 18:29, 30) Lawo maqiniso asiqinisekisa ngokuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ungokoqobo nokuthi uzoqhubeka ufeza izinjongo zikaJehova.

14-15. Siyogcwaliseka kanjani ekugcineni isithembiso sikaJehova sokuqeda ukufa kuze kube phakade?

¹⁴ Manje uJesu useyiNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ezulwini futhi uzozigcwalisa zonke izithembiso uJehova azenzile. (2 Kor. 1:20) Kusukela ngo-1914, uJesu ubelokhu ezinqoba izitha zakhe. (IHu. 110:1, 2) Maduzane uJesu nalabo azobusa nabo bazonqoba ngokuphelele futhi babhubhise abantu ababi.​—IsAm. 6:2.

 ¹⁵ Phakathi nokuBusa KukaJesu Kweminyaka Eyinkulungwane, abafile bayovuswa, kususwe nesono kubantu abalalelayo. Ngemva kovivinyo lokugcina, labo uJehova abahlulela njengabalungile “bayodla ifa lomhlaba, bahlale kuwo kuze kube phakade.” (IHu. 37:10, 11, 29) Siyajabula ngokuthi “isitha sokugcina, ukufa, kuzokwenziwa ize.”​—1 Kor. 15:26.

16. Kufanele sibe yini isizathu sethu esiyinhloko sokukhonza uJehova?

¹⁶ Njengoba sibonile, ithemba lethu lokuphila phakade lisekelwe ngokuqinile eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Lelo themba lingasisiza sihlale siqotho phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina ezinzima. Kodwa ukuze sijabulise uJehova, akwanele nje ukuba nesifiso sokuqhubeka siphila. Isizathu esiyinhloko sokuhlala siqotho kuJehova nakuJesu siwukuthi sibathanda ngokujulile. (2 Kor. 5:14, 15) Lolo thando lusikhuthaza ukuba sibalingise futhi sitshele abanye ngethemba esinalo. (Roma 10:13-15) Lapho sifunda ukupha nokungabi nobugovu, siba uhlobo lwabantu uJehova afuna lube abangane bakhe kuze kube phakade.​—Heb. 13:16.

17. Yini okudingeka ngamunye wethu ayenze? (Mathewu 7:13, 14)

¹⁷ Ingabe siyoba phakathi kwalabo abayothola ukuphila okuphakade? UJehova usivulele lelo ithuba. Manje yithina okudingeka sikhethe ukuhlala endleleni eholela ekuphileni. (Funda uMathewu 7:13, 14.) Kuyoba njani ukuphila lapho sesiphila phakade? Sizoxoxa ngempendulo yalowo mbuzo esihlokweni esilandelayo.