Ukukhanya KukaNkulunkulu Kuxosha Ubumnyama!
Ukukhanya KukaNkulunkulu Kuxosha Ubumnyama!
“UJehova uyakhanyisa ubumnyama bami.”—2 SAMUWELI 22:29.
1. Ukukhanya kuhlobene kanjani nokuphila?
“UNKULUNKULU wathi: ‘Makube khona ukukhanya,’ kwaba khona ukukhanya.” (Genesise 1:3) Ngalawo mazwi aphawulekayo, ukulandisa kwendalo okukuGenesise kuveza uJehova njengowumthombo wokukhanya, obekungeke kube khona ukuphila emhlabeni ngaphandle kwako. UJehova futhi ungumthombo wokukhanya okungokomoya, okubalulekile ukuze sithole isiqondiso endleleni yokuphila. (IHubo 43:3) INkosi uDavide yabonisa ukuthi ukukhanya okungokomoya kuhlobene eduze nokuphila lapho ibhala: “Ngokuba ukuwe umthombo wokuphila; ekukhanyeni kwakho siyakubona ukukhanya.”—IHubo 36:9.
2. Njengoba uPawulu abonisa, ukukhanya kuhlobene nani eduze?
2 Eminyakeni engaba yinkulungwane ngemva kwesikhathi sikaDavide, umphostoli uPawulu wacaphuna ukulandisa kwendalo. Ebhalela ibandla lobuKristu laseKorinte, wathi: “UNkulunkulu nguye owathi: ‘Ukukhanya makukhanye ebumnyameni.’” UPawulu wabe esebonisa ukuthi ukukhanya okungokomoya kuhlobene eduze nolwazi oluvela kuJehova lapho enezela: “Ukhanyisé izinhliziyo zethu ukuze azenze zikhanye ngolwazi olukhazimulayo lukaNkulunkulu ngobuso bukaKristu.” (2 Korinte 4:6) Kufika kanjani kithi lokhu kukhanya?
IBhayibheli Lidlulisela Ukukhanya
3. Yikuphi ukukhanya uJehova akunikeza ngeBhayibheli?
3 UJehova udlulisela ukukhanya okungokomoya ngokuyinhloko ngeZwi lakhe eliphefumulelwe, iBhayibheli. Ngakho njengoba sitadisha iBhayibheli futhi singenisa ulwazi oluvela kuNkulunkulu, sivumela ukukhanya kwakhe kukhanye kithi. NgeBhayibheli, uJehova ukhanyisa izinjongo zakhe, asitshele nokuthi singayenza kanjani intando yakhe. Lokhu kwenza ukuphila kwethu kube nenjongo, kusize nasekwaneliseni izidingo zethu ezingokomoya. (UmShumayeli 12:1; Mathewu 5:3) UJesu wagcizelela ukuthi kumelwe sizinakekele izidingo zethu ezingokomoya lapho ecaphuna uMthetho KaMose ethi: “Kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Umuntu akumelwe aphile ngesinkwa sodwa, kodwa ngawo wonke amazwi aphuma emlonyeni kaJehova.’”—Mathewu 4:4; Duteronomi 8:3.
4. Kungamuphi umqondo uJesu ‘ewukukhanya kwezwe’?
4 UJesu uhlobene eduze nokukhanya okungokomoya. Empeleni, wazibiza ‘ngokukhanya kwezwe,’ wayesethi: “Lowo ongilandelayo akasoze ahamba ebumnyameni, kodwa uyoba nokukhanya kokuphila.” (Johane 8:12) La mazwi asisiza ukuba siqonde indima kaJesu esemqoka ekudluliseleni iqiniso likaJehova esintwini. Ukuze sigweme ubumnyama sihambe ekukhanyeni kukaNkulunkulu, kumelwe silalele konke uJesu akushoyo futhi sisilandele eduze isibonelo nezimfundiso zakhe eziseBhayibhelini.
5. Abalandeli bakaJesu baba namuphi umthwalo wemfanelo ngemva kokufa kwakhe?
5 Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uJesu waphinde wazibiza ngokukhanya, wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ukukhanya kusazoba phakathi kwenu isikhashana. Hambani lapho nisenokukhanya, ukuze ubumnyama bunganehluli; futhi lowo ohamba ebumnyameni akazi lapho eya khona. Lapho nisenokukhanya, bonisani ukholo ekukhanyeni, ukuze nibe amadodana okukhanya.” (Johane 12:35, 36) Labo abába ngamadodana okukhanya bafunda “isibonelo samazwi amahle” eBhayibheli. (2 Thimothewu 1:13, 14) Babe sebewasebenzisa la mazwi amahle ukuze badonsele abanye abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho ekukhanyeni kukaNkulunkulu, baphume ebumnyameni.
6. Yiliphi iqiniso eliyisisekelo ngokukhanya nobumnyama esilithola kweyoku-1 Johane 1:5?
6 Umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “UNkulunkulu ungukukhanya futhi abukho nhlobo ubumnyama ebunyeni naye.” (1 Johane 1:5) Phawula umehluko lapha phakathi kokukhanya nobumnyama. Ukukhanya okungokomoya kuvela kuJehova, futhi ubumnyama obungokomoya abunakuhlotshaniswa naye. Ubani-ke owumthombo wobumnyama?
Umthombo Wobumnyama Obungokomoya
7. Ngubani obangela ubumnyama obungokomoya obusemhlabeni, futhi unaliphi ithonya?
7 Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ‘ngonkulunkulu walesisimiso sezinto.’ Ngalawo mazwi, wayeqonde uSathane uDeveli. Waqhubeka wathi ‘uye waphuphuthekisa izingqondo zabangewona amakholwa, ukuze kungakhanyi ukukhanya kwezindaba ezinhle ezikhazimulayo ezimayelana noKristu, ongumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.’ (2 Korinte 4:4) Abaningi bathi bayakholelwa kuNkulunkulu; kodwa abaningi ngokwandayo kubo abakholelwa kuDeveli. Ngani? Abazimisele ukwamukela ukuthi kungaba khona amandla athile amabi, angaphezu komuntu, angathonya indlela abacabanga ngayo. Nokho, njengoba kubonisa uPawulu, uDeveli ukhona futhi uyabathonya abantu ukuze bangakuboni ukukhanya kweqiniso. Amandla kaSathane okuthonya ukucabanga kwabantu abonakala emazwini esiprofetho esimchaza ngokuthi “odukisa umhlaba wonke owakhiwe.” (IsAmbulo 12:9) Ngenxa yezinto ezenziwa uSathane, isimo esabikezelwa umprofethi u-Isaya sesiyiqiniso kuso sonke isintu ngaphandle kwalabo abakhonza uJehova: “Bheka, ubumnyama buyasibekela umhlaba, nesigayegaye abantu.”—Isaya 60:2.
8. Labo abasebumnyameni obungokomoya babonisa ngaziphi izindlela ukuthi abazazi ukuthi bakuphi?
8 Ebumnyameni obuthe ngcí akubonakali lutho. Umuntu ulahleka kalula noma angabe esazazi ukuthi ukuphi. Ngokufanayo, labo abasebumnyameni obungokomoya bantula ukuqonda futhi ngokushesha ababe besazazi ukuthi bakuphi ngomqondo ongokomoya. Bangagcina bengasakwazi ukuhlukanisa phakathi kweqiniso namanga, okuhle nokubi. Umprofethi u-Isaya wakhuluma ngalabo abasebumnyameni obunjalo lapho ebhala: “Wo kubona abasho okubi ukuthi kungokuhle, nokuhle ukuthi kungububi, ababeka ubumnyama bube ngukukhanya, nokukhanya kube ngubumnyama, babeke nokubabayo kube ngubumtoti, nobumtoti bube ngokubabayo!” (Isaya 5:20) Labo abahlala ebumnyameni obungokomoya bathonywa ngunkulunkulu wobumnyama, uSathane uDeveli, futhi ngenxa yalokho bakude nomthombo wokukhanya nokuphila.—Efesu 4:17-19.
Inselele Yokuphuma Ebumnyameni Uye Ekukhanyeni
9. Chaza indlela abenzi bokubi ababuthanda ngayo ubumnyama ngomqondo ongokoqobo nongokomoya.
9 UJobe owayethembekile waphawula indlela abenzi bokubi ababuthanda ngayo ubumnyama obungokoqobo lapho ethi: “Iso lesiphingi libheka ukuhlwa ngokuthi: ‘Malingangiboni iso,’ sisithe ubuso baso.” (Jobe 24:15) Abenzi bokubi basebumnyameni obungokomoya, futhi ubumnyama obunjalo bungathena amandla. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi ukuziphatha okubi kobulili, ukweba, ukuhaha, ukudakwa, ukuthuka nokuphanga kuvamile phakathi kwalabo abasogibeni oluyilobo bumnyama. Kodwa noma yibaphi abeza ekukhanyeni kweZwi likaNkulunkulu bangashintsha. Encwadini ayeyibhalele abaseKorinte uPawulu wenza kucace ukuthi ushintsho olunjalo lungenzeka. AmaKristu amaningi aseKorinte ayekade enza imisebenzi yobumnyama, kodwa uPawulu wathi kuwo: “Kodwa seniye nagezwa nahlanzeka, kodwa seniye nangcweliswa, kodwa sekuthiwe nilungile egameni leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu nangomoya kaNkulunkulu wethu.”—1 Korinte 6:9-11.
10, 11. (a) UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayeyicabangela indoda ayivula amehlo? (b) Kungani abaningi bengakukhethi ukukhanya?
10 Lapho umuntu ephuma ebumnyameni obuthe ngcí engena ekukhanyeni, amehlo akhe angase adinge isikhashana ukuze ajwayele ukukhanya. EBetsayida, uJesu waphulukisa umuntu oyimpumputhe kodwa wenza kanjalo kancane kancane ngomusa. “Wabamba lomuntu oyimpumputhe ngesandla, wamkhiphela ngaphandle komuzana, futhi, esekhafulele phezu kwamehlo akhe, wabeka izandla zakhe phezu kwakhe waqala ukumbuza: ‘Ingabe kukhona okubonayo?’ Lomuntu wabheka phezulu futhi waqala ukuthi: ‘Ngibona abantu, ngoba ngibona okusengathi izihlahla, kodwa kuyahambahamba.’ Khona-ke waphinda wabeka izandla zakhe emehlweni alomuntu, futhi lomuntu wabona ngokucacile, futhi waphiliswa, futhi wayebona konke ngokugqamile.” (Marku 8:23-25) Kubonakala sengathi uJesu wenza le ndoda yabona kancane kancane ukuze ikwazi ukujwayela ukukhanya kwelanga okuxhophayo. Singacabanga indlela ajabula ngayo lowo muntu lapho ekwazi ukubona.
11 Nokho, injabulo eyezwiwa yilowo muntu ayifiki enjabulweni yalabo abasizwa ukuba baphume kancane kancane ebumnyameni obungokomoya bangene ekukhanyeni kweqiniso. Lapho sibona injabulo yabo, singase sizibuze ukuthi kwenziwa yini ukuthi abengeziwe bangezi ekukhanyeni. UJesu unikeza isizathu: “Yilesi isisekelo sokwahlulela, ukuthi ukukhanya kufikile ezweni kodwa abantu baye bathanda ubumnyama kunokukhanya, ngoba imisebenzi yabo imibi. Ngoba lowo ozenza umkhuba izinto ezimbi uyakuzonda ukukhanya futhi akezi ekukhanyeni, ukuze imisebenzi yakhe ingasolwa.” (Johane 3:19, 20) Yebo, abaningi bayakuthanda ukwenza “izinto ezimbi”—njengokuziphatha okubi, ukucindezela abanye, ukuqamba amanga, ukuphanga nokweba—futhi ubumnyama bukaSathane obungokomoya buyindawo ekahle kubo yokwenza abakuthandayo.
Ukuthuthuka Ekukhanyeni
12. Yiziphi izindlela esiye sazuza ngazo ngokuza ekukhanyeni?
12 Yiziphi izinguquko esesizibonile kithi kusukela sathola ulwazi lokukhanya? Kuhle ngezinye izikhathi ukubheka emuva sihlaziye izinga esesithuthuke ngalo ngokomoya. Yimiphi imikhuba emibi esesiyilahlile? Yiziphi izinkinga esiye sakwazi ukuzilungisa ekuphileni kwethu? Esikuhlelela isikhathi esizayo kuye kwashintsha kanjani? Ngamandla kaJehova nangosizo lomoya wakhe ongcwele, singaqhubeka senza izinguquko ebuntwini bethu nasendleleni yethu yokucabanga, izinguquko eziyobonisa ukuthi siyakwamukela ukukhanya. (Efesu 4:23, 24) UPawulu ukubeka kanje: “Nanikade niwubumnyama kodwa manje seniwukukhanya mayelana neNkosi. Qhubekani nihamba njengabantwana bokukhanya, ngoba izithelo zokukhanya zenziwa yizo zonke izinhlobo zobuhle nokulunga neqiniso.” (Efesu 5:8, 9) Ukuvuma ukuqondiswa ukukhanya kukaJehova kusinika ithemba nenjongo futhi kuthuthukise ukuphila kwalabo abasizungezile. Futhi yeka indlela okumjabulisa ngayo uJehova ukwenza kwethu lezo zinguquko!—IzAga 27:11.
13. Singakubonisa kanjani ukubonga kwethu ngokukhanya kukaJehova, futhi yini edingekayo enkambweni enjalo?
13 Sibonisa ukubonga kwethu ngokuphila okunenjabulo eyengeziwe esinakho ngokubonakalisa ukukhanya kukaJehova—lokho esiye sakufunda eBhayibhelini sikuhlanganyele namalungu emikhaya yethu, abangane nomakhelwane. (Mathewu 5:12-16; 24:14) Ukushumayela kwethu nenkambo yethu yokuphila kobuKristu eyisibonelo kuyabasola labo abangafuni ukulalela. UPawulu uyachaza: “Qhubekani niqinisekisa ukuthi kuyini okwamukelekayo eNkosini; futhi niyeke ukuhlanganyela nawo emisebenzini engatheli engeyobumnyama, kodwa, kunalokho, nize ngisho niwasole.” (Efesu 5:10, 11) Ukusiza abanye ukuba bashiye ubumnyama bakhethe ukukhanya kudinga isibindi kithi. Okubaluleke nakakhulu, kudinga ububele nokukhathalela abanye kanye nesifiso esisuka enhliziyweni sokuhlanganyela ukukhanya kweqiniso nabo ukuze bazuze phakade.—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
Qaphela Ukukhanya Okuholela Ophathe!
14. Mayelana nokukhanya, yisiphi isixwayiso okufanele sisilalele?
14 Kulabo abasuke besolwandle ebumnyameni ebusuku, noma yikuphi ukukhanya kuyinto ejabulisayo. Endulo, kwakubaswa imililo emaweni anamadwala aseNgilandi ukuze kubonakale izindawo zokuphepha esivunguvungwini. Amatilosi emikhumbi ayejabula ngokuqondiswa yilokhu kukhanya angene emathekwini aphephile. Nokho, eminye imililo yayiholela ophathe. Kunokuba ithole itheku, imikhumbi eminingi yayidukiswa bese iphihlizeka osebeni olunamadwala, lapho kwakuntshontshwa khona izimpahla eyayisuke izithwele. Kuleli zwe elikhohlisayo, kumelwe siqaphele ukuba singadonswa ukukhanya okuholela ophathe okungasiyengela ekuphihlizekelweni umkhumbi ngokomoya. Sitshelwa ukuthi “uSathane ngokwakhe uqhubeka eziguqula ingelosi yokukhanya.” Izinceku zakhe, kuhlanganise nezihlubuki, nazo ngokufanayo ‘ziyizisebenzi ezinenkohliso’ ‘eziqhubeka ziziguqula izikhonzi zokulunga.’ Uma samukela ukucabanga okungamanga kwabanjalo, ukuthembela kwethu eZwini likaJehova eliyiqiniso, iBhayibheli, kungaba buthaka futhi ukholo lwethu lungafa.—2 Korinte 11:13-15; 1 Thimothewu 1:19.
15. Yini eyosisiza ukuba sihlale emgwaqweni oholela ekuphileni?
15 Umhubi wabhala: “Izwi lakho liyisibani ezinyaweni zami nokukhanya endleleni yami.” (IHubo 119:105) Yebo, ‘umgwaqo onyinyekile oholela ekuphileni’ ukhanyiswa ngokucacile nguNkulunkulu wethu onothando, uJehova, “ontando yakhe iwukuba zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.” (Mathewu 7:14; 1 Thimothewu 2:4) Ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli kuyosivikela ukuba singanhlanhlathi siphume kulowo mgwaqo onyinyekile singene ezindleleni zobumnyama. UPawulu wabhala: “Yonke imiBhalo iphefumulelwe uNkulunkulu futhi inenzuzo yokufundisa, yokusola, yokuqondisa izinto, yokuyala ekulungeni.” (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Njengoba sikhula ngokomoya, sifundiswa yiZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngokukhanya kweZwi likaNkulunkulu singazikhuza ngokwethu noma, uma kudingeka, sisolwe abelusi abanothando ebandleni. Ngokufanayo, singalungisa izinto futhi ngokuthobeka samukele isiyalo ekulungeni ukuze siqhubeke sisemgwaqweni oya ekuphileni.
Hamba Ekukhanyeni Ngokwazisa
16. Singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa ilungiselelo likaJehova elimangalisayo lokukhanya?
16 Singakubonisa kanjani ukwazisa ilungiselelo likaJehova elihle lokukhanya? UJohane isahluko 9 usitshela ukuthi lapho umuntu owayezelwe eyimpumputhe elashwa nguJesu, washukumiseleka ukuba abonise ukwazisa. Kanjani? Wabonisa ukholo kuJesu njengeNdodana kaNkulunkulu wambiza obala ‘ngomprofethi.’ Ngaphezu kwalokho, wakhuluma ngesibindi ephikisa labo ababezama ukululaza isimangaliso sikaJesu. (Johane 9:17, 30-34) Umphostoli uPetru ubiza amalungu agcotshiwe ebandla lobuKristu ngokuthi “isizwe sokuba yimpahla ekhethekile.” Ngani? Ngoba anomoya wokubonga ofanayo nowaloya muntu owayezelwe eyimpumputhe owaphulukiswa. Abonisa ukwazisa uJehova, uMzuzisi wawo, ‘ngokumemezela kabanzi ubuhle balowo owawabiza ukuba aphume ebumnyameni angene ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.’ (1 Petru 2:9; Kolose 1:13) Labo abanethemba lasemhlabeni banomoya ofanayo wokubonga, futhi basekela abafowabo abagcotshiwe ekumemezeleni obala “ubuhle” bukaJehova. Yeka ilungelo elingenakuqhathaniswa uNkulunkulu alinika abantu abangaphelele!
17, 18. (a) Umuntu ngamunye unamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo? (b) UmKristu ngamunye ukhuthazwa ukuba alingise uThimothewu ngokugwema ini?
17 Ukwazisa ukukhanya kweqiniso ngokusuka enhliziyweni kubalulekile. Khumbula, akekho kithi ozalwa elazi iqiniso. Abanye balifunda sebebadala, basheshe babone ukuthi ukukhanya kungcono kunobumnyama. Abanye banelungelo elikhulu lokukhuliswa abazali abesaba uNkulunkulu. Kwabanjalo, kungase kube lula ukukuthatha kalula ukukhanya. Omunye uFakazi obazali bakhe babekhonza uJehova yena engakazalwa uyavuma ukuthi kwamthatha isikhathi eside nokuzikhandla okukhulu ukuba akuqonde ngokugcwele ukubaluleka kwamaqiniso ayewafundiswe kusukela ewusana. (2 Thimothewu 3:15) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibancane noma sibadala, ngamunye wethu kudingeka ahlakulele ukulazisa ngokujulile iqiniso uJehova alembulile.
18 Insizwa enguThimothewu yayifundiswe “imibhalo engcwele” kusukela isewusana, kodwa ukuvuthwa njengomKristu yakufinyelela kuphela ngokuzikhandla enkonzweni yayo. (2 Thimothewu 3:15) Yabe isikwazi ukusiza umphostoli uPawulu, owayikhuthaza: “Yenza konke okusemandleni akho ukuba uzethule wamukeleka kuNkulunkulu, isisebenzi okungekho lutho esingaba namahloni ngakho, esiphatha izwi leqiniso ngokufanele.” Kwangathi sonke, njengoThimothewu, singagwema ukwenza noma yini engase isenze sibe namahloni—noma yenze uJehova abe namahloni ngathi!—2 Thimothewu 2:15.
19. (a) NjengoDavide, sonke sinesizathu sokuba sithini? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
19 Sinezizathu ezinengqondo zokudumisa uJehova, owasinika ukukhanya kweqiniso lakhe. NjengeNkosi uDavide, sithi: “Wena uyisibani sami, Jehova; uJehova uyakhanyisa ubumnyama bami.” (2 Samuweli 22:29) Nokho, asilokothi sizithele ngabandayo, njengoba lokhu kungasenza sikhukhuleke siphindele ebumnyameni esahlengwa kubo. Ngakho-ke, isihloko esilandelayo sizosisiza ukuba sihlaziye ukuthi iqiniso laphezulu silibheka njengelibaluleke kangakanani ekuphileni kwethu.
Ufundeni?
• UJehova ukunikeza kanjani ukukhanyiselwa okungokomoya?
• Ubumnyama obungokomoya obusizungezile busibekela yiphi inselele?
• Yiziphi izingozi okumelwe sizigweme?
• Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyabonga ngokukhanya kweqiniso?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Isithombe ekhasini 8]
UJehova ungumthombo wokukhanya okungokoqobo nokungokomoya
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Njengoba uJesu amelapha kancane kancane umuntu owayeyimpumputhe, nathi usisiza kanjalo ukuba siphume ebumnyameni obungokomoya
[Isithombe ekhasini 11]
Ukudukiswa ukukhanya kukaSathane kwamanga kuphumela ekuphihlizekelweni umkhumbi ngokomoya