1, 2. UPetru wayebhekisela kobani ngelithi ‘abakhethiweyo,’ futhi kungani ababiza ngokuthi “izakhamuzi zesikhashana”?

NGEMVA kweminyaka engaba ngu-30 uJesu enyukela ezulwini, umphostoli uPetru wabhala incwadi eya “kwabayizakhamuzi zesikhashana ezihlakazekele ePhontu, eGalathiya, eKhaphadosiya, e-Asiya, naseBhithiniya, [abakhethiweyo].” (1 Pet. 1:1) Kusobala ukuthi ngaleli gama elithi, ‘abakhethiweyo,’ uPetru wayebhekisele kulabo, ababegcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele njengaye futhi ababenikwe “ukuzalwa okusha ethembeni eliphilayo” lokubusa noKristu ezulwini. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:3, 4.) Kodwa kungani kamuva abiza laba abakhethiweyo ngokuthi “abafokazi nezakhamuzi zesikhashana”? (1 Pet. 2:11) Lokhu kusho ukuthini kithi namuhla njengoba ngokwesilinganiso cishe uyedwa kuphela kwabangu-650 oFakazi abashumayelayo othi ugcotshiwe?

² Kwakufaneleka ukusebenzisa inkulumo ethi “izakhamuzi zesikhashana” kwabagcotshiweyo ekhulwini lokuqala. Njengoba kunjalo ngensali yaleli qembu esaphila namuhla, babengeke baphile phakade emhlabeni. Umphostoli uPawulu naye oyilungu ‘lomhlambi omncane’ ogcotshiwe, wachaza: “Kepha thina, siyizakhamuzi zasemazulwini, okuyindawo futhi esilindele kuyo ngokulangazela umsindisi, iNkosi uJesu Kristu.” (Luka 12:32; Fil. 3:20) Ngenxa yokuthi ‘bayizakhamuzi zasemazulwini,’ lapho befa, abagcotshiweyo bayohamba emhlabeni ukuze bayothola okuthile okungcono kakhulu, ukuphila kokungafi emazulwini. (Funda eyabaseFilipi 1:21-23.) Ngakho, ngomqondo ongokoqobo, bangabizwa ngokuthi “izakhamuzi zesikhashana” kulo mhlaba olawulwa uSathane.

3. Imuphi umbuzo ophakamayo manje ngokuphathelene ‘nezinye izimvu’?

³ Kodwa kuthiwani ‘ngezinye izimvu’? (Joh. 10:16) Azinalo yini ithemba elisekelwe emiBhalweni lokuba  izakhamuzi zaphakade emhlabeni? Kunjalo, umhlaba uyoba ikhaya lazo kuze kube phakade! Noma kunjalo, ngomqondo othile nazo okwamanje zingabhekwa njengezakhamuzi zesikhashana. Ngamuphi umqondo?

4. Yini abaholi bezwe abehlulekayo ukuyivimbela?

⁴ Uma nje isimiso sikaSathane esibi sisavunyelwe ukuba sibe khona, wonke umuntu, kuhlanganise namaKristu, uyoqhubeka ebhekana nemiphumela yokuvukela kukaSathane uJehova. Sifunda lokhu kumaRoma 8:22: “Siyazi ukuthi yonke indalo iyaqhubeka ibubula kanyekanye futhi isezinhlungwini kanyekanye kuze kube manje.” Abaholi bezwe, ososayensi nabezenhlalakahle, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi baqotho kanjani, abakwazi ukukuvimbela lokhu.

5. Kusukela ngo-1914, isiphi isinyathelo esiye sathathwa izigidi zabantu, futhi ngani?

⁵ Ngenxa yalokho, kusukela ngo-1914, izigidi zabantu ziye zakhetha ukuba izikhonzi zokuzithandela zeNkosi emiswe uNkulunkulu, uKristu Jesu. Azifisi ukuba ingxenye yesimiso sezwe likaSathane. Ziyenqaba ukusekela izwe likaSathane. Kunalokho, zisebenzisa ukuphila nempahla yazo ekusekeleni uMbuso kaNkulunkulu, zithuthukise izithakazelo zawo.—Roma 14:7, 8.

6. OFakazi BakaJehova bangabizwa ngokuthi bangabafokazi ngamuphi umqondo?

⁶ Yebo, oFakazi BakaJehova bayizakhamuzi ezithobela umthetho emazweni angaphezu kuka-200, kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bahlalaphi, bafana nabantu abangabafokazi. Abaluthathi nhlobo uhlangothi ezindabeni zezombusazwe nezezenhlalo zanamuhla. Kwamanje, bazibheka njengezakhamuzi zezwe elisha likaNkulunkulu. Bayajabula ukubona izinsuku zabo njengezakhamuzi zesikhashana esimisweni sezwe elingaphelele zisondela ngokushesha esiphelweni.

7. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyoba kanjani izakhamuzi zaphakade, futhi zakuphi?

⁷ Maduze uKristu uzosebenzisa igunya lakhe ukuze abhubhise isimiso sikaSathane esibi. Uhulumeni ophelele kaKristu uzokhulula umhlaba esonweni nasosizini. Uzosusa yonke iminonjana ebonakalayo nengabonakali yokuvukela ubukhosi  bukaJehova obufanele. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziqotho zizoba izakhamuzi zaphakade emhlabeni oyiPharadesi. (Funda isAmbulo 21:1-5.) Ngomqondo ophelele, indalo iyobe ‘isikhululiwe ekugqilazweni ukonakala isinenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’—Roma 8:21.

8, 9. Chaza ukuthi uPetru wayesho ukuthi ngenkulumo ethi ‘ukudeda ezifisweni zenyama.’

⁸ UPetru uchaza lokho okulindeleke kumaKristu lapho eqhubeka ethi: “Bathandekayo, ngininxusa njengabafokazi nezakhamuzi zesikhashana ukuba niqhubeke nideda ezifisweni zenyama, okuyizo kanye ezilwa nomphefumulo.” (1 Pet. 2:11) Ekuqaleni leso seluleko sasiqondiswe kumaKristu agcotshiwe, kodwa sisebenza ngokufanayo nakwezinye izimvu zikaJesu.

⁹ Ezinye izifiso azizimbi ngokwazo uma zaneliswa ngendlela emiswe uMdali. Empeleni zenza ukuphila kujabulise. Ngokwesibonelo, kunezifiso ezivamile ezinjengokujabulela ukudla okumnandi neziphuzo, ukuhlanganyela emisebenzini eqabulayo nokujabulela ubudlelwane nabangane abahle. Ngisho nesifiso sokujabulela ubulili nomuntu oshade naye singesifanele futhi sinendawo yaso. (1 Kor. 7:3-5) Nokho, uPetru wazihlukanisa ‘izifiso zenyama’ ayekhuluma ngazo ngokuba athi yilezo “ezilwa nomphefumulo.” Ukuze zikucacise lokho okukhulunywa ngakho, ezinye izinguqulo zeBhayibheli zisebenzisa elithi “izinkanuko zenyama,” (IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile) noma “izifiso zesono” (New International Version). Kusobala ukuthi noma isiphi isifiso somuntu esingqubuzana nenjongo uJehova ayishilo futhi esilimaza ubuhlobo obuhle umuntu anabo naYe kumelwe silawulwe. Uma singalawulwa, ithemba lomKristu lokulondoloza umphefumulo wakhe lingaba sengozini enkulu.

10. Iziphi ezinye zezindlela uSathane azisebenzisayo ukuze enze amaKristu abe ingxenye yezwe lakhe?

¹⁰ USathane ufuna ukukwenza buthaka ukuzimisela kwamaKristu eqiniso ukuzibheka ‘njengezakhamuzi zesikhashana’ kulesi simiso samanje. Ubukhazikhazi bezinto ezibonakalayo, ukuyenga kokuziphatha okubi, ukukhanga kokuvelela, ukukhohlisa komoya ‘wobumina’ nokudonswa ihuha lobuzwe—konke lokhu kuyizingibe zikaSathane futhi akumelwe sikhohliseke. Ngokuzimisela ukuzigwema lezi zifiso zenyama ezimbi, sibonisa ngokucacile ukuthi asifuni ukuba ingxenye yezwe elibi likaSathane. Sinikeza ubufakazi bokuthi sihlezi kulo okwesikhashana. Esikufuna nesikulwela ngempela ukuba sibe izakhamuzi zaphakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu lokulunga.

11, 12. Ngezinye izikhathi, izifiki zibhekwa kanjani, futhi yini engase ishiwo ngoFakazi BakaJehova?

¹¹ UPetru uyaqhubeka echaza lokho okulindeleke kumaKristu ‘ayizakhamuzi zesikhashana’ ngokuthi evesini 12: “Gcinani ukuziphatha kwenu kukuhle phakathi kwezizwe, ukuze kuthi, entweni ezikhuluma kabi ngani kuyo njengokungathi ningabenzi bokubi, zikhazimulise uNkulunkulu ngosuku lokuhlola kwakhe ngenxa yemisebenzi yenu emihle ezingofakazi bayo bokuzibonela.” Izifiki, izakhamuzi zesikhashana, ngokuvamile ziyagxekwa ezweni ezigogobele kulo. Ngenxa nje yokuthi zihlukile kubantu bendawo ezingomakhelwane babo, zingaze zibhekwe nanjengabenzi bokubi. Zingase zihluke ngenkulumo, izenzo, ukugqoka ngisho nangendlela ezibukeka ngayo. Kodwa lapho zenza imisebenzi emihle, okungukuthi, lapho ukuziphatha kwazo kukuhle, izinkulumo ezimbi eziphathelene nokwehluka kwazo azibi nasisekelo.

¹² Ngokufanayo, amaKristu eqiniso  ahlukile komakhelwane bawo abaningi ezicini ezithile, njengezingxoxo zawo noma lokho akhetha ukuzijabulisa ngakho. Indlela yawo yokugqoka nokuzilungisa ngokuvamile yenza kubonakale ukuthi ahlukile kwabaningi emphakathini. Ngenxa yokwehluka kwawo, ngezinye izikhathi labo abatshelwe amanga ngawo bayawamangalela bathi angabenzi bokubi. Nokho, abanye bangase bayincome indlela yawo yokuphila.

13, 14. Ukuhlakanipha ‘kubonakaliswa kanjani kulungile imisebenzi yako’? Bonisa.

¹³ Yebo, ukuziphatha okuhle kungasiza ekuqedeni ukugxekwa okungasekelwe ndawo. Ngisho noJesu, ukuphela komuntu owaphila ngokwethembeka okuphelele kuNkulunkulu, wamangalelwa ngamanga. Abanye bambiza ngokuthi “umuntu ominzayo nothanda ukuphuza iwayini, umngane wabathelisi nezoni.” Nokho, iqiniso liwukuthi inkambo yakhe yokuhlakanipha ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu yabonisa ukuthi wayemane ebhecwa ngobende. UJesu wathi: “Ukuhlakanipha kubonakaliswa kulungile yimisebenzi yako.” (Math. 11:19) Nanamuhla kusenjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, abafowethu nodadewethu abakhonza eBethel eseSelters, eJalimane, babhekwa abanye bomakhelwane babo njengabantu abangaqondakali. Kodwa umphathi-dolobha wakhuluma kahle ngabo, wathi: “OFakazi abakhonza lapho banendlela ehlukile yokuphila, kodwa engakuphazamisi neze ukuphila kwabanye emphakathini.”

¹⁴ Kusanda kufinyelelwa esiphethweni esifanayo ngokuphathelene noFakazi BakaJehova baseMoscow, eRussia. Babemangalelwe ngamanga ngamacala amaningi. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-June 20, 2010, iNkantolo YaseYurophu Yamalungelo Abantu eStrasbourg, eFrance, yakhipha lesi sinqumo: “INkantolo ithola ukuthi ukuphazamisa [kweMoscow] ilungelo labamangalelwa lokukhulekela nokuhlangana ndawonye kwakungasekelwe ndawo. Izinkantolo ezincane azizange ziveze izizathu ‘ezifanelekayo nezanele’ ukuze zibonise ukuthi umphakathi wabamangalelwa” unecala, ngokwesibonelo, lokubhidliza imikhaya, ukugqugquzela ukuzibulala noma ukwenqaba ukwelashwa. Ngakho, “isinqumo sezinkantolo ezincane sokuwunswinya sasiqatha ngokwedlulele ngoba izinkantolo ezincane ziye zehluleka ukubonelela futhi zenza ngendlela engahambisani nanoma imuphi umgomo ongokomthetho ezaziwuphishekela.”

15. Isiphi isimiso seBhayibheli esilandelwa amaKristu eqiniso emhlabeni wonke?

¹⁵ OFakazi BakaJehova eMoscow—empeleni, emhlabeni wonke—bagcwalisa enye imfuneko elindeleke kumaKristu echazwe uPetru. Wabhala: “Ngenxa yeNkosi zithobeni kuyo yonke indalo engabantu: kungakhathaliseki ukuthi enkosini njengephakeme noma kubabusi.” (1 Pet. 2:13, 14) Nakuba engeyona ingxenye yaleli zwe elibi, amaKristu eqiniso azithoba ngokuzithandela emagunyeni ohulumeni “ezikhundleni  zawo ezilinganiselwe,” njengoba nje uPawulu awayala.—Funda amaRoma 13:1, 5-7.

16, 17. (a) Yini ebonisa ukuthi asimelene nohulumeni? (b) Yini eye yavunywa abanye abaholi bezombusazwe?

¹⁶ Lapho oFakazi BakaJehova beziphatha ‘njengezakhamuzi zesikhashana’ kulesi simiso sezinto, abakwenzi ngenjongo yokubonisa ukungahambisani nohulumeni ngandlela-thile; futhi abaphikisi noma baphazamise abanye abazenzela ezabo izinqumo zezombusazwe noma zezenhlalo. Ngokungafani namanye amaqembu ezinkolo, oFakazi BakaJehova bayakugwema ukuzigaxa kwezombusazwe. Abalokothi bazame ukutshela iziphathimandla lokho okumelwe zikwenze. Kuyinto engasekelwe ndawo ukuthi bangaphazamisa ukuthula komphakathi noma bavukele uhulumeni!

¹⁷ Ngokulalela iziphathimandla ngokuvumelana neseluleko sikaPetru ‘sokubonisa udumo enkosini,’ amaKristu abonisa inhlonipho nodumo oluhambisana nezikhundla zazo. (1 Pet. 2:17) Ngezinye izikhathi, iziphathimandla ziye zavuma ukuthi azinasizathu esiphathekayo sokukhathazeka ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, omunye usombusazwe waseJalimane uSteffen Reiche, owake waba ungqongqoshe esifundazweni saseBrandenburg futhi kamuva owaba ilungu ephalamende laseJalimane, wathi: “Ukuziphatha koFakazi BakaJehova emakamu nasemajele kubonisa izimfanelo ezinhle ezibaluleke kakhulu namuhla njengasesikhathini esidlule ekubeni khona kombuso okhethwe ngentando yeningi: okungukuthi, ubuqotho bawo ekumelaneni namaSS nesihawu abasibonisa kwezinye iziboshwa ezazikanye nabo. Uma kucatshangelwa ubudlova obandayo obenziwa kubantu bokufika nakulabo abanemibono ehlukile noma abasezinhlanganweni zezombusazwe ezihlukile, kumelwe nakanjani zonke izakhamuzi zezwe lethu zizihlakulele lezi zimfanelo ezinhle.”

18. (a) Kungani kulindelekile ukuba sithande bonke abazalwane? (b) Yini eye yaphawulwa abanye abantu abangebona oFakazi?

¹⁸ Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Thandani bonke abazalwane, mesabeni uNkulunkulu.” (1 Pet. 2:17) OFakazi BakaJehova banokwesaba okunempilo kokudumaza uNkulunkulu, futhi lokhu kubashukumisela ngokwengeziwe ukuba benze intando yakhe. Bayakujabulela ukukhonza uJehova njengengxenye yobuzalwane bomhlaba wonke babazalwane nodade abanesifiso esifanayo. Ngakho-ke, kulindelekile ukuba ‘bathande bonke abazalwane.’ Uthando olunjalo lobuzalwane oluyivelakancane emphakathini wanamuhla onobugovu, luvame ukubamangaza abantu abangebona oFakazi. Ngokwesibonelo, umuntu obonisa izivakashi indawo osebenza enkampanini yezezivakashi yaseMelika wamangala lapho ebona uthando nosizo oFakazi abakubonisa izihambeli ezivela kwamanye amazwe emhlanganweni wezizwe eJalimane ngo-2009. Wathi wayeqala ukubona into enje kuyo yonke iminyaka enza lowo msebenzi. Kamuva, omunye woFakazi waphawula: “Konke akusho ngathi wayekusho ngezwi elinokumangala nomdlandla.” Ingabe nawe wake wezwa abantu ababuka oFakazi besabela ngendlela efanayo emhlanganweni omkhulu owawuye kuwo?

19. Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza, futhi ngani?

¹⁹ Ngazo zonke lezi zindlela osekukhulunywe ngazo nangezinye, oFakazi BakaJehova babonisa ukuthi ngomqondo ophelele, ‘bayizakhamuzi zesikhashana’ kulesi simiso sikaSathane. Futhi bayakujabulela ukuqhubeka beyizo. Ithemba labo liqinile futhi linesisekelo esifanele lokuthi maduze bazoba izakhamuzi zaphakade ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu lokulunga. Ingabe yilokho nawe okulangazelelayo?