1. Yini okumele siyenze ukuze sisinde ngosuku lukaJehova?

 LAPHO iBhayibheli likhuluma ‘ngosuku lukaJehova,’ lisuke likhuluma ngesikhathi uJehova ayokwahlulela ngaso izitha zakhe, asindise nabantu bakhe. Endulo, uJehova wayebahlulela abantu ngezinye izikhathi. (Isaya 13:1, 6; Hez. 13:5; Zef. 1:8) Esikhathini sethu, “usuku lukaJehova” luzoqala ngokuhlaselwa kweBhabhiloni Elikhulu, lufinyelele umvuthwandaba walo empini ye-Armagedoni. Ukuze sisinde ngalolo “suku,” kudingeka sizilungiselele manje. UJesu akasifundisanga ukuba silungele “usizi olukhulu” nje kuphela, kodwa wasifundisa nokuba ‘sihlale’ silulungele.​—Math. 24:21; Luka 12:40.

2. Kungani incwadi yokuqala kwabaseThesalonika ingasizuzisa nathi?

² Encwadini yokuqala ephefumulelwe umphostoli uPawulu ayibhalela abaseThesalonika, wasebenzisa imifanekiso eminingana ukuze asize amaKristu ahlale elulungele usuku olukhulu lukaJehova lokwahlulela. Wayazi ukuthi usuku lukaJehova lwalungeke lufike ngaleso sikhathi. (2 Thes. 2:1-3) Noma kunjalo, wanxusa abafowabo ukuba balulungele lolo suku njengokungathi luzofika ngakusasa. Nathi singasisebenzisa iseluleko sakhe. Ake sixoxe ngendlela achaza ngayo lokhu okulandelayo: (1) indlela usuku lukaJehova oluzofika ngayo, (2) obani abangeke basinde ngalolo suku nokuthi (3) yini esingayenza ukuze silungele ukusinda.

3. Usuku lukaJehova luzofika kanjani njengesela ebusuku? (Bheka nesithombe.)

³ “Ngokufana . . . nesela ebusuku.” (1 Thes. 5:2) Lona umfanekiso wokuqala kwemithathu esetshenziselwa ukuchaza  indlela usuku lukaJehova oluzofika ngayo. Amasela avame ukwenza izinto ngokushesha futhi azenze lapho kumnyama abantu bengawalindele. Usuku lukaJehova nalo luyofika kungalindelekile, lubazume abantu abaningi. Ngisho namaKristu eqiniso kungase kuwamangaze ukubona indlela izinto ezenzeka ngokushesha ngayo. Kodwa ngokungafani nabantu ababi, thina ngeke sibhujiswe.

4. Usuku lukaJehova lufana kanjani nemihelo?

⁴ “Njengemihelo efikela owesifazane okhulelwe.” (1 Thes. 5:3) Umama okhulelwe usuke engazi ngokuthe ngqo ukuthi izoqala nini imihelo. Kodwa usuke azi ukuthi nakanjani iyeza. Lapho imihelo isiqala, cishe iyamzuma, kube buhlungu futhi ngeke akwazi ukuyivimba. Ngokufanayo, asilwazi usuku nehora okuzoqala ngalo usuku lukaJehova. Noma kunjalo, siyaqiniseka ukuthi lona luzofika nokuthi isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu kwababi siyobazuma bangakwazi nokuphunyuka.

5. Usizi olukhulu lufana kanjani nokukhanya lapho kuqala usuku?

⁵ Njengokukhanya lapho kuqala usuku. Umfanekiso wesithathu kaPawulu uphinde ukhulume ngamasela antshontsha ebusuku. Kodwa manje uPawulu ube eseqhathanisa usuku lukaJehova nokuqala kokukhanya lapho kusa. (1 Thes. 5:4) Izigebengu ezintshontsha ebusuku zingase zibambezeleke zize zingasiboni nesikhathi. Lapho kusa, ukukhanya kungase kuzifice zingalindele bese zibonakala obala. Ngokufanayo, usizi olukhulu luzobaveza obala labo abanjengamasela, abaqhubeka besebumnyameni belokhu benza izinto ezingamthokozisi uNkulunkulu. Ngokungefani nabo, thina singalulungela ngokungazenzi izinto ezingamthokozisi, senze “zonke izinhlobo zobuhle nokulunga neqiniso.” (Efe. 5:8-12) UPawulu ube esesebenzisa imifanekiso emibili eveza iphuzu elifanayo ukuze achaze abantu abangeke basinde.

6. Iningi labantu lilele ngamuphi umqondo? (1 Thesalonika 5:6, 7)

⁶ “Abalalayo.” (Funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:6, 7.) Abantu abangeke basinde ngosuku lukaJehova, uPawulu wabafanisa nabantu abalele. Abakuboni okwenzeka lapho bekhona, ababoni nokuthi isikhathi siyahamba. Ngenxa yalokho, abakwazi ukuqonda izenzakalo ezithile ezenzekayo noma ukwenza okuthile ngazo. Iningi labantu namuhla lifana nabantu abalele. (Roma 11:8) Abanandaba nobufakazi bokuthi siphila “ezinsukwini zokugcina” nokuthi usizi olukhulu luzofika maduzane. Izenzakalo ezinkulu ezenzeka emhlabeni zingase zibavuse abanye ebuthongweni, zibenze bawuthande kancane umyalezo woMbuso esiwushumayelayo. Noma kunjalo, abaningi baphinde bazilalele nje kunokuba bahlale bephapheme. Ngisho nalabo abakholelwayo ukuthi usuku lokwahlulela luyeza, bacabanga ukuthi lusekude. (2 Pet. 3:3, 4) Nokho, thina siyaqaphela ukuthi lesi seluleko sokuba sihlale siphapheme siya siphuthuma usuku nosuku.

7. Abantu abazobhujiswa uNkulunkulu bafana kanjani nezidakwa?

⁷ “Abadakwayo.” Umphostoli uPawulu wabafanisa nezidakwa abantu abazobhujiswa. Abantu abadakiwe bayanwabuluka lapho kukhona okuthile okwenzekayo futhi benza izinqumo ezingahlakaniphile. Ngokufanayo, abantu ababi abazilaleli izixwayiso zikaNkulunkulu. Bakhetha indlela yokuphila ezobaholela ekubhujisweni. Kodwa amaKristu wona ayalwa ukuba ahlale esangulukile. (1 Thes. 5:6) Esinye isazi seBhayibheli sithi ‘umuntu osangulungile uhlala ezolile, akatatazeli futhi uhlale egxilile. Uyakwazi ukucabanga ngendlela ecacile ukuze enze isinqumo esifanele.’ Kungani kumele sihlale sizolile futhi sigxilile? Ukuze singangeni kwezepolitiki noma ezimpikiswaneni zezenhlalo zanamuhla. Isilingo sokuthatha uhlangothi kulezi zindaba sizoba sikhulu njengoba usuku lukaJehova lusondela. Noma kunjalo, akudingeki sikhathazeke ngokuthi sizokwenzenjani. Umoya kaNkulunkulu ungasisiza sizole, sibe abantu abagxilile nabakwazi ukwenza izinqumo ezihlakaniphile.​—Luka 12:11, 12.

8. Eyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:8 izifanisa nani izimfanelo ezizosisiza sihlale siphapheme futhi sisangulukile? (Bheka nesithombe.)

⁸ ‘Masigqoke isivikelo sesifuba sifake nesigqoko sokuzivikela.’ UPawulu usifanisa namasosha ahlale eqaphile futhi agqoke izembatho zempi. (Funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:8.) Isosha kulindeleke ukuba lihlale likulungele ukulwa uma kunempi. Kunjalo nangathi. Sihlale silulungele usuku lukaJehova ngokugqoka isivikelo sesifuba sokholo nothando nesigqoko sokuzivikela sethemba. Lezi zimfanelo zingasisiza kakhulu.

9. Lusivikela kanjani ukholo lwethu?

⁹ Isivikelo sesifuba sasivikela inhliziyo yesosha. Ukholo nothando luvikela inhliziyo yethu engokomfanekiso. Lezi zimfanelo zizosisiza siqhubeke sikhonza uNkulunkulu futhi silandele noJesu. Ukholo lusiqinisekisa ngokuthi uJehova uzosivuza uma simfuna ngenhliziyo yethu yonke. (Heb. 11:6) Luzosenza sihlale siqotho kuMholi wethu uJesu, ngisho noma kudingeka sikhuthazelele ubunzima. Ukuze sikwazi ukubhekana nezinselele zokuphila, kudingeka siqinise ukholo ngokufunda ezibonelweni zanamuhla zabantu abagcine ubuqotho naphezu koshushiso noma ubunzima bezomnotho. Ugibe lokuthanda izinto lona singalugwema ngokulingisa abantu abenze ukuphila  kwabo kwaba lula ukuze babeke uMbuso kuqala. b

10. Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu nomakhelwane bethu kusisiza kanjani sikhuthazele?

¹⁰ Uthando nalo lubalulekile ukuze sihlale siphapheme futhi sisangulukile. (Math. 22:37-39) Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kuyasisiza sikhuthazele emsebenzini wokushumayela naphezu kwezinkinga esingase sibe nazo ngenxa yalo msebenzi. (2 Thim. 1:7, 8) Ngenxa yokuthi siyabathanda nabantu abangamkhonzi uJehova, siyaqhubeka sishumayela, size sishumayele ngisho nangocingo nangokubhala izincwadi. Asililahli ithemba lokuthi omakhelwane bethu bayoshintsha, baqale ukwenza okulungile.​—Hez. 18:27, 28.

11. Kusisiza kanjani ukuthanda esikholwa nabo? (1 Thesalonika 5:11)

¹¹ Ukuthanda umakhelwane kuhlanganisa nokuthanda amanye amaKristu. Uthando olunjalo silubonisa ‘ngokukhuthazana nangokwakhana.’ (Funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:11.) Siyakhuthazana kuhle kwamasosha asohlangothini olulodwa alwa ndawonye. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi lawo masosha angase alimazane ngephutha lapho impi ishubile, kodwa ngeke neze alimazane ngamabomu. Ngendlela efanayo, nathi asisoze sabalimaza ngamabomu abafowethu nodadewethu noma siphindisele ukulinyazwa ngokulimaza. (1 Thes. 5:13, 15) Uthando lwethu silubonisa nangokuhlonipha abazalwane abengamele emabandleni. (1 Thes. 5:12) Ngesikhathi uPawulu ebhala le ncwadi, ibandla laseThesalonika lalingakawuhlanganisi unyaka limisiwe. Amadoda ayemisiwe kulelo bandla kungenzeka ayengakabi nolwazi oluningi futhi kungenzeka awenza amaphutha. Noma kunjalo, ayesakufanelekela ukuhlonishwa. Njengoba usuku olukhulu luya lusondela, kungase kudingeke sincike kubadala ngaphezu kwendlela esenza ngayo manje ukuze sithole iziqondiso. Singase singakwazi ukuxhumana nendlunkulu kanye nehhovisi legatsha; yingakho kubalulekile ukufunda manje ukuthanda nokuhlonipha abadala. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani, masihlale  sisangulukile, singagxili emaphutheni abo, kodwa sigxile ekutheni uJehova uyawasebenzisa la madoda athembekile esebenzisa uKristu.

12. Ithemba lethu liyivikela kanjani ingqondo yethu?

¹² Njengoba nje isigqoko sokuzivikela sasivikela ikhanda lesosha, ithemba lethu lensindiso nalo livikela ingqondo yethu, lisisize sicabange ngendlela efanele. Uma sinokholo oluqinile, siyaqaphela ukuthi izinto esizithenjiswa yileli zwe ziyize. (Fil. 3:8) Ithemba lethu liyasisiza sihlale sizolile futhi sigxilile. Labasiza oWallace noLaurinda, abakhonza e-Afrika. Emavikini amathathu nje, ngamunye wabo washonelwa umzali. Ngenxa yobhubhane lwe-COVID-19, abakwazanga ukubuyela emakubo ukuze babe nemindeni yabo. UWallace wabhala: “Ithemba lovuko liyangisiza ngingacabangi ngendlela ababeyiyo lapho sebezoshona, kodwa ngicabange ngendlela abayoba yiyo lapho bevuswa ezweni elisha. Leli themba lingenza ngizole lapho ngidabukile noma nginosizi.”

13. Yini esingayenza ukuze sithole umoya ongcwele?

¹³ “Ningawucimi umlilo womoya.” (1 Thes. 5:19) UPawulu wafanisa umoya ongcwele nomlilo ongaphakathi kithi. Uma sinomoya kaNkulunkulu, siba nentshiseko evuthayo yokwenza okulungile futhi sibe nomdlandla wokusebenzela uJehova. (Roma 12:11) Yini esingayenza ukuze sithole umoya ongcwele? Singathandaza siwucele, sitadishe iZwi likaNkulunkulu eliphefumulelwe futhi sizihlanganise nenhlangano yakhe eqondiswa umoya. Ukwenza kanjalo kuzosisiza sihlakulele “izithelo zomoya.”​—Gal. 5:22, 23.

14. Yini okumele siyigweme ukuze siqhubeke sithola umoya kaNkulunkulu? (Bheka nesithombe.)

¹⁴ Ngemva kokuba uNkulunkulu esesinikile umoya wakhe ongcwele, kumele siqaphele ukuba ‘singawucimi umlilo womoya.’ Abantu abacabanga nabaziphatha ngendlela ehlanzekile yibona kuphela uNkulunkulu abanika umoya wakhe. Ngeke aqhubeke esinika umoya wakhe uma sicabanga imicabango engahlanzekile futhi sikwenza lokho esikucabangayo. (1 Thes. 4:7, 8) Ukuze siqhubeke sithola umoya ongcwele, kumele ‘singazideleli neziprofetho.’ (1 Thes. 5:20) Igama elithi “iziprofetho”  lapha libhekisela emiyalezweni esiyithola ngomoya kaNkulunkulu, ehlanganisa naleyo ephathelene nosuku lukaJehova nokuphuthuma kwezikhathi esiphila kuzo. Asiluhlehlisi lolo suku ezingqondweni zethu, sicabange ukuthi i-Armagedoni ngeke ifike sisaphila. Kunalokho, sibonisa ukuthi silulindele noma yinini ngokuziphatha ngendlela efanele nangokuzigcina simatasa ‘ngezenzo zokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu’ zonke izinsuku.​—2 Pet. 3:11, 12.

15. Singakugwema kanjani ukukhohliswa izinto ezingelona iqiniso nenkulumo-ze yamademoni? (1 Thesalonika 5:21)

¹⁵ Esikhathini esiseduze, abantu abamelene noNkulunkulu bazomemezela “Ukuthula nokulondeka!” ngandlela-thile. (1 Thes. 5:3) Inkulumo-ze ephefumulelwe amademoni iyogcwala emhlabeni, idukise abaningi. (IsAm. 16:13, 14) Thina-ke? Ngeke sikhohliseke uma ‘siqiniseka ngazo zonke izinto.’ (Funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 5:21.) Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “qiniseka” lalisetshenziselwa ukuchaza indlela abantu ababehlola ngayo izinto eziyigugu ezimbiwa phansi, ezinjengegolide nesiliva, ukuze babone ukuthi ezangempela yini. Ngakho, kudingeka sikuhlole esikuzwayo noma esikufundayo ukuze sithole ukuthi kuyiqiniso yini. Kwakubalulekile lokho kwabaseThesalonika futhi kuzobaluleka nakakhulu kithi njengoba usizi olukhulu lusondela. Kunokuba simane samukele lokho okushiwo abanye, sisebenzisa ingqondo yethu ukuze siqhathanise lokho esikufundayo noma esikuzwayo nalokho okushiwo iBhayibheli nenhlangano kaJehova. Uma senza kanjalo ngeke sikhohliswe inkulumo-ze yamademoni.​—IzAga 14:15; 1 Thim. 4:1.

16. Yiliphi ithemba eliqinisekile esinalo, futhi yini esizimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁶ Njengeqembu, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyosinda osizini olukhulu. Kodwa asazi ukuthi ikusasa limphatheleni umuntu ngamunye. (Jak. 4:14) Noma kunjalo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyasinda osizini olukhulu noma sifa ngaphambi kwalo, siyothola umvuzo wokuphila okuphakade uma sihlala sithembekile. Abagcotshiwe bayobe benoKristu ezulwini. Ezinye izimvu zona ziyobe zisemhlabeni oyipharadesi. Kwangathi sonke singagxila ethembeni lethu elimangalisayo futhi sihlale silulungele usuku lukaJehova!