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UNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe, Oyingqayizivele II
Isimo SikaNkulunkulu Esilungile
Manje njengoba benikade nilalele ingxoxo yangaphambilini mayelana negunya likaNkulunkulu, ngiqinisekile ukuthi senihlome ngenqwaba yamagama ngalolo daba. Ukuthi nizokwazi ukwemukela futhi niqonde, konke, kuncike ekutheni nizozikhandla kanganani ekukusebenziseni. Kuyithemba Lami ukuthi ningayithatha le ndaba ngobuqotho; ningalinge niyenze ngokuzidonsa nje! Manje, ukwazi igunya likaNkulunkulu kufana nokwazi konke ngoNkulunkulu? Ungathi ukwazi igunya likaNkulunkulu wukuqala ukwazi uNkulunkulu oyingqayizivele uqobo Lwakhe, futhi ungathi futhi ukwazi igunya likaNkulunkulu kusho ukuthi umuntu usengenile empeleni esangweni lokwazi ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu oyingqayizivele Uqobo Lwakhe. Lokhu kuqonda kuyingxenye eyodwa yokwazi uNkulunkulu. Iyiphi-ke le enye ingxenye? Lesi isihloko engifisa ukuxoxa ngaso namuhla—isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile.
Ngikhethe izindima ezimbili eBhayibhelini engizoxoxa ngazo ngesihloko sanamuhla: Eyokuqala imayelana nokubhujiswa kweSodoma nguNkulunkulu, okutholakala kuGenesise 19:1-11 kanye noGenesise 19:24-25; eyesibili imayelana nokukhululwa kweNineve NguNkulunkulu, okutholakala kuJona 1:1-2, nasesahlukweni sesithathu nesesine sencwadi. Ngicabanga ukuthi nonke nilindele ukuzwa ukuthi yini engizoyisho ngalezi zingxenye ezimbili. Engikushoyo, vele, ngeke kuqhele endabeni esiphezu kwayo yokwazi uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe kanye nokwazi ubukhona Bakhe, kodwa-ke, sizogxila kuphi engxoxweni yanamuhla? Kukhona kinina owaziyo? Iziphi izingxenye zentshumayelo Yami ngegunya likaNkulunkulu, ezinikhangile? Kungani ngithe Yilowo onegunya namandla anje onguNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe? Yini ebengifisa ukuyichaza ngokusho lokho? Yini ebengifisa ukukwazisa yona? Igunya namandla kaNkulunkulu yingxenye eyodwa yokubonisa ubukhona Bakhe na? Ayingxenye yobukhona Bakhe efakazela ubuyena nesikhundla Sakhe na? Le mibuzo isikutshelile engufuna ukukusho? Yini engifuna niyiqonde? Ake nicabange ngalokhu ngokucophelela.
Ngenxa Yokumelana NoNkulunkulu Ngenkani, Umuntu Ubhujiswa Yintukuthelo KaNkulunkulu
Okokuqala, ake sibheke izindima eziningi zemiBhalo ezichaza “Ukubhubhiswa kweSodoma nguNkulunkulu.”
(UGenesise 19:1-11) Kwase kufika izingelosi ezimbili eSodoma sekuhwalele; uLoti yena wayehleli esangweni laseSodoma: wathi uLoti ezibona wasukuma ukuba azihlangabeze; wayesekhothama emhlabathini ubuso bakhe bubheke phansi; futhi wathi, bhekani manje, makhosi ami, ake nichezuke, ningene endlini yenceku yenu, nichithe ubusuku bonke, futhi nihlanze izinyawo zenu, bese nivuka ekuseni, nihambe izindlela zenu. Zase zithi, Cha; siyakuchitha ubusuku bonke emgwaqweni. Futhi wazincenga kakhulu, zaze zachezukela kuye, futhi zangena endlini yakhe, wase ezenzela idili, wazenzela isinkwa esingenayo imvubelo, zase zidla. Kodwa phambi kokuba zilale, amadoda edolobha, ngisho namadoda aseSodoma, azungeza indlu, amasha kanye namadala, abantu bonke abavela nxazonke: Base bembiza uLoti, bathi kuye, Aphi la madoda angene endlini yakho kusihlwa na? silethele wona, ukuze siwazi. ULoti waphumela ngaphandle kubona emnyango, wase evala umnyango emva kwakhe. Wase ethi, Ngiyanincenga, bafowethu, ningenzi okubi. Bhekani manje, nginamadodakazi amabili angayazi indoda, ngiyanincenga, ake nginikhiphele wona, futhi nenze kuwo okufanele emehlweni enu: kodwa ningenzi lutho kula madoda, ngokuba angene emthunzini wophahla lwami. Base bethi, Deda. Baphinda futhi bathi, lo muntu oyedwa ufike ezongenisa, futhi ufuna ukwahlulela: manje siyakukuhlupha kakhulu wena kunabo. Base bemcindezela kakhulu lo muntu, ngisho noLoti, basondela ukuba bafohloze umnyango. Kodwa amadoda alula izandla, futhi amdonsela endlini kuwo uLoti, ase evala umnyango. Zase sishaya amadoda ayesemnyango wendlu ngobumpumputhe, amadala kanye namancane: afuna umnyango aze akhathala.
(UGenesise 19:24-25) Khona iNKOSI yanisa phezu kweSodoma neGomora isibabuli nomlilo futhi kuvela eNKOSINI ezulwini; futhi wachitha lawo madolobha, nalo lonke ithafa, nabo bonke abakhe emadolobheni, nalokho okuhluma emhlabathini.
Kulezi zindima, akunzima ukubona ukuthi ububi nokukhohlakala kweSodoma kwase kufike ezingeni elinengekayo kokubili kubantu nakuNkulunkulu, nokuthi emehlweni kaNkulunkulu lo muzi wawufanele ukubhujiswa. Kepha kwenzekani ngaphakathi kwalo muzi ngaphambi kokuthi ubhujiswe? Abantu bangafundani kulezo zigameko? Umbono kaNkulunkulu mayelana nalezo zigameko usitshelani ngesimo Sakhe? Ukuze siqonde yonke indaba, masifunde ngokucophelela okubhalwe emBhalweni….
Inkohlakalo YeSodoma: Okuthukuthelisayo Kumuntu, Okuvusa Ulaka KuNkulunkulu
Ngalobo busuku, uLoti wavakashelwa izithunywa ezimbili ezazivela kuNkulunkulu futhi wazilungiselela idili. Ngemva kokudla, ngaphambili kokuba zilale, abantu abasuka kuzo zonke izindawo zalo muzi, bazungeza indlu kaLoti bambiza uLoti. Ukulandisa komBhali kuthi bathi, “Aphi la madoda angene endlini yakho kusihlwa na? silethele wona, ukuze siwazi.” Obani abasho la mazwi? Ayeshiwo kubani? Lawa kwakungamazwi abantu baseSodoma, abawamemeza ngaphandle kwendlu kaLoti futhi ayeqondiswe kuLoti. Uzizwa kanjani uma uzwa la mazwi? Ingabe uyathukuthela? La mazwi ayakunenga? Uyabila ulaka? La mazwi awanuki uSathane? Ngawo uyabuzwa yini ububi nobumnyama kulo muzi? Uyaluzwa unya nesihluku sokuziphatha kwalaba bantu emazwini abo? Uyakuzwa ukujula kokukhohlakala kwabo ngokuziphatha kwabo? Ngokuqukethwe inkulumo yabo, akunzima ukubona imvelo yabo enobubi kanye nesimo sabo esinobulwane sase sifike ezingeni elase lingaphezu kwabo ukuthi bangalilawula. Ngaphandle kukaLoti, bonke abantu kulo muzi babengahlukile neze kuSathane; ukubona nje omunye umuntu kwabenza laba bantu bafuna ukubalimaza nokubashwabadela…. Lezi zinto azimniki nje umuntu umuzwa wokunyantisa nokusabeka kwesimo salo muzi, kanye nokuzungezwa ukufa; zimnika nomuzwa wokukhohlakala kwabo nokomela kwabo igazi.
Lapho ezithola ebhekene ubuso nobuso nequlu lezinswelaboya ezinonya, abantu ababegcwele ukuzimisela okushwabadela umphefumulo, waphendula kanjani uLoti? Ngokusho koMbhalo: “Ngiyanincenga ... ningenzi okubi. Bhekani manje, nginamadodakazi amabili angayazi indoda, ngiyanincenga, ake nginikhiphele wona, futhi nenze kuwo okufanele emehlweni enu: kodwa ningenzi lutho kula madoda, ngokuba angene emthunzini wophahla lwami.” ULoti wayechaza lokhu ngamazwi akhe: Wayezimisele ukunikela ngamadodakazi akhe amabili ukuze avikele izithunywa. Kwakufanele ukuba laba bantu bavumelane nemibandela kaLoti futhi baziyeke izithunywa; Phela vele, izithunywa zabe ziyizihambi okwempela kubo, abantu ababengahlanganise lutho nabo; lezi zithunywa ezimbili zazingakaze zibahluphe ngalutho. Kodwa, bephushwa imvelo yabo embi, abazange balushiye kanjalo udaba. Kunalokho, baphikelela kakhulu kunakuqala. Lapha enye yezinto abazishoyo ngokungangabazeki inganika umuntu ukuqondisisa mayelana nemvelo enonya ngempela yalaba bantu; ngaso leso sikhathi iyasiza ukuthi umuntu azi futhi aqonde isizathu sokuthi uNkulunkulu afise ukuwubhubhisa lo muzi.
Baqhubeka bathini-ke? Njengoba sifunda eBhayibhelini: “Deda. Baphinda futhi bathi, lo muntu oyedwa ufike ezongenisa, futhi ufuna ukwahlulela: manje siyakukuhlupha kakhulu wena kunabo. Base bemcindezela kakhulu lo muntu, ngisho noLoti, basondela ukuba bafohloze umnyango. Kungani babefuna ukuphula umnyango? Isizathu ukuthi babegaqele kakhulu ukulimaza lezi zithunywa ezimbili. Zazenzani lezo zithunywa eSodoma? Inhloso yazo yokufika lapho kwabe kuwukuhlenga uLoti nomndeni wakhe; kodwa, abantu bomuzi ngephutha babecabanga ukuthi bazokuba izikhulu ezithile. Ngaphandle kokubuza inhloso yabo, kwabe kumane kuwumngathekiso owenza umuzi ufune ukulimaza ngonya lezi zithunywa; babefuna ukulimaza abantu ababili ababengahlanganise lutho nabo. Kusobala ukuthi abantu balo muzi base belahlekelwe ngokuphelele ubuntu nomqondo wabo. Izinga lokuhlanya nobudlova kwabo kwase kungasahlukile kunemvelo enesihluku kaSathane yokulimaza nokushwabadela abantu.
Kwathi lapho befuna laba bantu kuLoti, uLoti wenze njani? Ngokombhalo siyazi ukuthi uLoti akazange abanikele kubo. Wayezazi lezi zithunywa ezimbili zikaNkulunkulu uLoti? Ngokusobala Cha! Kungani pho wakwazi ukuhlenga laba bantu ababili? Noma wayengasazi isizathu sokuza kwabo, wayazi ukuthi izinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ngakho wabemukela. Ukuthi wayengabiza lezi zinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngamakhosi, kwakukhombisa ukuthi uLoti wayengumlandeli kaNkulunkulu ngokujwayelekile, hhayi njengabanye ngaphakathi eSodoma. Ngakho-ke, kwathi uma kufika izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kuyena, wafaka impilo yakhe engozini ukwemukela lezi zinceku ezimbili; ngaphezu kwalokho, washintshisana ngamadodakazi akhe amabili ukuze avikele lezi zinceku ezimbili. Isenzo sikaLoti lesi esilungileyo; futhi kungukubonakaliswa okuphathekayo kwemvelo nobunjalo bukaLoti. Lapho ebhekene nobungozi, uLoti wavikela lezi zinceku ezimbili ngaphandle kokubheka enye into; wazama ngisho ukunikela ngamadodakazi akhe amabili ukuze esikhundleni sawo, azuze ukuphepha kwezinceku. Ngaphandle kukaLoti, kukhona omunye phakathi komuzi owayengenza lokhu? Njengoba amaqiniso efakazela—Cha! Kuyacaca ukuthi bonke phakathi eSodoma, ngaphandle kukaLoti, kwakuhlosiwe ukuthi babhujiswa futhi ngabantu ababekufanele ukubhujiswa.
ISodoma Iyaqothulwa Ngokuvusa Intukuthelo KaJehova
Uma abantu baseSodoma bebona lezi zinceku ezimbili, abazange babuze isizathu sokufika kwazo, futhi akekho nowabuza ukuthi ingabe babefike ukuzosabalalisa intando kaNkulunkulu na? Kunalokho, benza iviyo, futhi, ngaphandle kokulinda incazelo, bafika ukuzobamba lezi zinceku njengezinja zasendle noma izimpisi ezinonya. Ingabe wazibuka uNkulunkulu lezi zinto ngesikhathi zenzeka? Wayecabangani uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni Yakhe ngalolu hlobo lokuziphatha kwabantu, ngale ndlela? UNkulunkulu wanquma ukuwubhubhisa lo muzi; akabange esanqikaza noma alinde, futhi wayengeke aqhubeke nokubekezela. Usuku Lwakhe lwase lufikile, futhi waqhubeka nomsebenzi ayefisa ukuwenza. Ngakho, uGenesise 19:24-25 uthi, “Khona iNKOSI yanisa phezu kweSodoma neGomora isibabuli nomlilo futhi kuvela eNKOSINI ezulwini; futhi wachitha lawo madolobha, nalo lonke ithafa, nabo bonke abakhe emadolobheni, nalokho okuhluma emhlabathini.” La mavesi amabili atshela abantu indlela uNkulunkulu abhubhisa ngayo lo muzi: itshela abantu futhi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabhubhisani. Okokuqala, iBhayibheli liyasilandisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu washisa umuzi ngomlilo, futhi nokuthi izinga lo mlilo lalilikhulu ngokuthi labhubhisa bonke abantu nalokho okumile emhlabathini. Okungukuthi, umlilo owehla ezulwini awuzange nje ubhubhise umuzi; wabhubhisa kanye nabo bonke abantu nezinto eziphilayo kuwo, wabhubhisa konke ngaphandle kokushiya ngisho umucu. Emuva kokuthi umuzi sewubhujisiwe, izwe lalingenalutho oluphilayo kulo. Kwakungasekho mpilo, noma ngisho izimpawu zako. Umuzi wawusuphenduke ihlane, indawo engenalutho, okuthule kuyo kuthe du. Kwakungeke kusaba khona izenzo ezimbi ezimelene noNkulunkulu kule ndawo; kwakungeke kusaba khona ukubulala noma ukuchithwa kwegazi.
Kungani uNkulunkulu afuna ukuwushisa nya lo muzi? Ubonani lapha? Ingabe uNkulunkulu wayengakwazi ukubuka isintu kanye nemvelo, indalo Yakhe Uqobo, zibhujiswe ngalolu hlobo? Uma ungakwazi ukubona intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu emlilweni owehliswa ezulwini, ngakho akukho nzima ukubona izinga lolaka Lwakhe kulokho Ayehlose ukukubhubhisa kanye nangezinga umuzi owabhujiswa ngalo. Uma uNkulunkulu enengwa umuzi, uletha isijeziso phezu kwawo. Kepha, lapho uNkulunkulu esenengekile ngomuzi, uletha izixwayiso eziningi azise abantu ngentukuthelo Yakhe. Kodwa lapho uNkulunkulu enquma ukuqeda nokubhubhisa umuzi—okungukuthi, lapho ulaka nobukhosi Bakhe sebucasuliwe—akabe esakhipha zijeziso noma izexwayiso. Esikhundleni salokho, uzowubhubhisa manjalo. Uzowuqotha ushabalale nya. Lokhu isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungileyo.
Emuva Kokuphindelela KweSodoma Limelana Naye Futhi Limzonda, UNkulunkulu Uyalibhubhisa Uyayiqeda Nya
Uma sesinokuqonda nokho isimo esilungileyo sikaNkulunkulu, singabuyisa umqondo sibheke umuzi waseSodoma lokho uNkulunkulu akubona njengomuzi wesono. Ngokuqonda ingqikithi yalo muzi, singaqonda ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu ayefuna ukuwubhubhisa nokuthi kungani wawubhubhisa wawuqeda nya. Ngalokhu, singafika ekwazini isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile.
Uma sibuka ngamehlo obuntu, iSodoma kwakuwumuzi owawukwazi ukwanelisa izifiso zomuntu nobubi bomuntu. Wawuheha, uloya, ngomculo nombhiyozo wokudansa ubusuku ngobusuku, ukunethezeka kwawo kwaholela amadoda ukuba ahuheke futhi ahlanye. Ububi baso badla izinhliziyo zabantu kwabaloya bawela enkohlakalweni. Lona umuzi lapho imimoya engcolile nemimoya emibi yayichanasa khona; wawugcwele phama isono nokubulala futhi wembozwe iphunga elinuka ukubola negazi. Kwabe kungumuzi onyantisa igazi, umuzi umuntu ayewuhlehlela angafuni ukusondela. Akekho kulo muzi owesilisa noma owesifazane, omncane noma omdala—owafuna indlela yeqiniso; akekho owayelangazelele ukukhanya noma owayefisa ukushiya phansi isono. Babephila ngaphansi kokulawula, inkohlakalo nenkohliso. Base belahlekelwe ubuntu babo; babelahlekelwe imiqondo yabo, futhi base belahlekelwe inhloso yokuba khona komuntu, yokuqala. Benza izono zokumelana noNkulunkulu ezingenakubalwa; bakunqaba ukuqondisa Kwakhe futhi bamelana nentando Yakhe. Kwakuyizenzo zabo ezimbi ezafaka laba bantu, umuzi kanye nayo yonke into ephilayo kuwo, igxathu ngegxathu, endleleni eya ekubhujisweni.
Noma lezi zindima ezimbili zingasho imininingwane echaza izinga lokukhohlakala kwabantu baseSodoma, esikhundleni salokho zibhala ngokuziphatha kwabo ezithunyweni zikaNkulunkulu, emuva kokufika kwabo emzini, iqiniso elisobala lingakhombisa izinga abantu baseSodoma ababekhohlakele, bebabi futhi bemelene noNkulunkulu ngayo. Ngalokhu, ubuso nengqikithi yangempela yabantu balo muzi yadaluleka. Hhayi nje ukuthi abazange bemukele izexwayiso zikaNkulunkulu, babengakusabi futhi ukujezisa Kwakhe kunalokho, bayishaya indiva intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu. Bamelana noNkulunkulu ngenkani ongathi izimpumputhe. Akukhathaliseki ukuthi wayenzani noma eyenza kanjani, imvelo yabo enonya yavele yanyukela kunakuqala futhi bamelana noNkulunkulu bephindelela. Abantu baseSodoma babenobutha nobukhona bukaNkulunkulu, ukuza Kwakhe, isijeziso Sakhe, kanye nakakhulukazi, izexwayiso Zakhe. Babengaboni lutho oluhle phakathi kwabo. Babeshwabadela futhi balimaza bonke abantu ababengabashwadela futhi babalimaze, futhi wawungekho umehluko endleleni ababephethe ngayo izinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Mayelana nazo zonke izenzo ezimbi ezenziwa abantu baseSodoma, ukulimaza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu kwabe kuyisicongo nje sentaba yeqhwa, kanti nemvelo yabo ekhohlakele eyavezwa yilokhu, yayilingana cishe neconsi nje olwandle olubanzi. Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu wakhetha ukubabhubhisa ngomlimo. UNkulunkulu akasebenzisanga uzamcolo, akasebenzisanga isiphepho, ukuzamazama komhlaba, itsunami noma inoma iyiphi enye indlela ukubhubhisa umuzi. Kwabe kuchaza ukuthini ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu umlilo ukubhubhisa lo muzi? Kwakuchaza ukubhujiswa okuphelele kwalowo muzi; kwakuchaza ukuthi umuzi wanyamalala ngokuphelele emhlabeni nasekutheni ubukhona. Lapha, ukubhujiswa akuchazi nje ukunyamalala kokuma, nesakhiwo noma ukubukeka kwangaphandle komuzi; kwakuchaza nokuthi imiphefumulo yabantu babengaphakathi komuzi yashabalala, ngenxa yokubhujiswa ngokuphelele. Ngamafuphi, bonke abantu, izigameko kanye nezinto eziphathelene nomuzi zabhujiswa. Kwakungeke kube khona kamuva noma ukuzalwa ngokusha komunye umzimba kubona; uNkulunkulu wayekususe ngokuphelele kubantu, indalo Yakhe, ingunaphakade. “Ukusetshenziswa komlilo” kwakuchaza ukuma kwesono, futhi kwakusho isiphetho sesono; leso sono sasingeke sisaba khona noma sisabalale. Kwakusho ukuthi ububi bukaSathane babulahlekelwe inhlabathi yabo ebondlayo kanye nasemathuneni lapho base buthole khona imvume yokuhlala nokuphila. Empini phakathi kukaNkulunkulu noSathane, ukusebenzisa kukaNkulunkulu umlilo uphawu lukaNkulunkulu lokunqoba, uSathane abekwa uphawu ngalo. Ukubhujiswa kweSodoma kuyimbuyiselamuva enkulu ekuzimiseleni kukaSathane ukumelana noNkulunkulu ngokonakalisa nokushwabadela abantu, futhi ngokufanayo kuwuphawu oludumazayo lwesikhathi ekuthuthukeni kwesintu, lapho umuntu enqaba ukuqondiswa uNkulunkulu wazinikela ekonakaleni. Ngokungaphezu kwalokho, kuwumbhalo wokwembuleka ngeqiniso lesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu.
Lapho umlilo uNkulunkulu awuthumela usuka ezulwini usuqothule iSodoma kwangasala lutho nje ngaphandle komlotha, kwakusho ukuthi umuzi obizwa ngokuthi “Sodoma” wawuyoyeka ukuba khona, njengakho konke ngaphakathi komuzi uqobo. Wabhujiswa intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu; wanyamalala ngaphansi kolaka nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yesimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile, iSodoma yathola isijeziso sayo esiyilungele; ngenxa yesimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile, yathola isiphetho esiyilungele. Ukushabalala kokuba khona kweSodoma kwakungenxa yobubi bayo, kwakungenxa yesifiso sikaNkulunkulu ukuthi angaphinde ayibone, noma abone inoma ibaphi abantu ababekade bekuyo noma iyiphi impahla eyayikade ikhulele kulo muzi. “Isifiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuthi angaphinde awubone lo muzi” wulaka Lakhe, kanye nobukhosi Bakhe. UNkulunkulu wawushisa umuzi ngenxa yokuthi ububi nesono sawo kwamenza Wezwa intukuthelo, ukunyanya kanye nokunengeka mayelana nawo futhi wafisa ukuthi angaphinde awubone wona noma nabantu nakho konke okuphilayo okuhlala kuwo. Emuva kokuthi umuzi sewushe wangqongqa, kwasala umlotha nje, wase ungasekho ngempela emehlweni kaNkulunkulu; ngisho izinkumbulo Zakhe ngawo, zasulwa. Lokhu kusho ukuthi umlilo owawuthunyelwe usuka ezulwini awuzange nje uqothule kuphela wonke umuzi waseSodoma kanye nabantu bakhona abagcwele izono, futhi awuzange nje ubhubhise zonke izinto ngaphakathi komuzi ezazingcoliswe isono, ngaphezu kwalokho, lo mlilo wabhubhisa izinkumbulo zobubi bomuntu nokumelana noNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwabe kuyinhloso kaNkulunkulu ngokushisa umuzi.
Isintu sase sonakaliswe kwaze kweqa. Babengazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngubani noma babevele kuphi. Uma uphatha uNkulunkulu laba bantu babegasela, banyunde futhi bahlambalaze. Ngisho noma izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zazifikile ukuzomemezela isexwayiso Sakhe, laba bantu abazange nje kuphela bangabonakalisi zimpawu zokuzisola; abazange bakulahle ukuziphatha ngendlela ekhohlakele. Esikhundleni salokho, balimaza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ngokweyisa. Abakukhombisa nabakuveza kwabe kuyimvelo nobukhona babo obunobutha obudlulele noNkulunkulu. Siyabona ukuthi ukumelana noNkulunkulu kwalaba bantu abonakele, kwabe kukukhulu kunokwembulwa kwesimo sabo esonakele, njengoba kwabe kukukhulu kunesigameko esisodwa nje sokunyundela noma ukubhuqa okusuka ekusweleni ukuqonda ngeqiniso. Kwabe kungebona ubulima noma ukungabi nalwazi okwakudala ukuziphatha ngokukhohlakala kwabo; kwakungekhona ukuthi laba bantu babekhohlisiwe, futhi kwabe kungesikhona ukuthi babedukisiwe. Ukuziphatha kwabo kwase kufike ezingeni lokuphikisana, ukumelana kanye nobuyaluyalu noNkulunkulu, okwakunokweyisa okusobala. Ngaphandle kokungabaza, lolu hlobo lokuziphatha komuntu kwakuzovusa ulaka lukaNkulunkulu, futhi kuvuse ulaka lwesimo Sakhe—isimo okungafanele sicasulwe. Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu wadedela ngqo futhi nangokusobala ulaka Lwakhe nobukhosi Bakhe; lokhu ukwembulwa ngeqiniso kwesimo sakhe esilungile. Ebhekene nomuzi owabe uchichima yisono, uNkulunkulu wafisa ukuwubhubhisa ngendlela esheshayo kakhulu kunezinye; wayefisa ukuqothula abaqede abantu abakuwo kanye nazo zonke izono zabo ngendlela ephelele kakhulu, ukwenza abantu balo muzi ukuthi bangabi sabakhona kanye nokuvimba isono esabe singaphakathi ukuthi sichume sande. Indlela eyabe ishesha futhi iphelele yokwenza lokhu kwabe kuwukushisa ngomlilo. Umbono kaNkulunkulu ngabantu baseSodoma kwabe kungesona esokubashiya noma ukungabakhathaleli; kunalokho, wasebenzisa ulaka, nobukhosi negunya Lakhe ukujezisa, ukuvithiza nokubabhubhisa nya laba bantu. Umbono Wakhe ngabo kwakungesona kuphela esokubabhubhisa ngokomzimba kuphela, kodwa kwabe kungukubhubhiswa komphefumulo, ukushabalalisa okungunaphakade. Yilokhu empeleni obekuqondwe isifiso sikaNkulunkulu ngabo ukuthi “bangabe besaba khona.”
Nakuba Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu Lucashile Futhi Lungaziwa Umuntu, Alukumeli Ukoniwa
Impatho kaNkulunkulu yesintu esinobuwula nokungabi nalwazi sisonke, isekelwe isihe nokubekezelela. Ulaka Lwakhe, ngakolunye uhlangothi, lufihlekile esikhathini nasezintweni eziningi; alwaziwa umuntu. Ngenxa yalokho, kunzima kumuntu ukubona uNkulunkulu ekhombisa ulaka Lwakhe, futhi kunzima ukuqonda ulaka Lwakhe. Kunje nje, umuntu uluthatha kalula ulaka lukaNkulunkulu. Uma umuntu esebhekana nomsebenzi nesinyathelo sokugcina sikaNkulunkulu sokubekezelela nokuxolela umuntu—okungukuthi, lapho uNkulunkulu enza isenzo sokugcina sesihe nesexwayiso Sakhe sokugcina sifika kubona—uma besasebenzisa izindlela ezifanayo ukumelana noNkulunkulu futhi bengenzi mizamo yokuphenduka, bashintshe izindlela zabo noma bemukele umusa Wakhe, uNkulunkulu ngeke esabapha ukubekezelelana nesineke Sakhe. Kunalokho, kungaleso sikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu eyohoxisa umusa Wakhe. Ngemva kwalokhu, uyothumela kuphela ulaka Lwakhe. Angakhombisa ulaka Lwakhe ngendlela ezehlukene, njengoba engasebenzisa izindlela ezihlukene ukujezisa nokubhubhisa abantu.
Ukusebenzisa kwaNkulunkulu umlilo ukubhubhisa umuzi waseSodoma indlela Yakhe eshesha kakhulu yokushabalalisa umuntu noma into. Ukushisa abantu baseSodoma kwabhubhisa okuningi kunemizimba yabo; kwabhubhisa imimoya yabo isiyonke, imiphefumulo kanye nemizimba, ukuqinisekisa ukuthi abantu abakulo muzi babengeke besaba khona ezweni elibonakalayo nasezweni elingabonakali kumuntu. Lena ngenye yezindlela uNkulunkulu aveza futhi akhombisa ngayo ulaka Lwakhe. Le ndlela yokuveza nokukhombisa ngenye yezingxenye zobukhona bolaka lukaNkulunkulu, njengoba ngokwemvelo futhi kuyisambulo sobukhona besimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu. Lapho uNkulunkulu ethumela ulaka Lwakhe, uyayeka ukuveza isihe noma uthando olunomusa futhi akabe esakhombisa ukubekezelelana noma isineke Sakhe; akukho muntu, into noma isizathu esingamenza ukuthi aqhubeke ukubekezela, ukupha umusa nokuphinda aphe ukubekezelelana Kwakhe futhi. Esikhundleni salezi zinto, ngaphandle kokungabaza, uNkulunkulu uzothumela ulaka nobukhosi Bakhe, enze lokho akufisayo, futhi uzozenza lezi zinto ngendlela esheshayo futhi ehlelekile ngokuhambisana nezifiso Zakhe. Lena yindlela uNkulunkulu athumela ngayo ulaka nobukhosi Bakhe, okungafanele umuntu ayinenge, futhi iyisibonakaliso sengxenye eyodwa yesimo esilungile Sakhe. Uma abantu bebona uNkulunkulu ekhathazekile futhi ekhombisa uthando kumuntu, abakwazi ukubona ulaka Lwakhe, babone ubukhosi Bakhe noma ukungabekezeleli Kwakhe isinengiso. Lezi zinto bezilokhu ziholela ukuthi abantu bakholwe ukuthi isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu esomusa, nokubekezelelana kanye nothando nje kuphela. Kepha, lapho umuntu ebona uNkulunkulu ebhubhisa umuzi noma enyanya isintu, ulaka Lwakhe lapho ebhubhisa umuntu kanye nobukhosi Bakhe, kuvumela abantu ukuthi babone lena enye ingxenye yesimo Sakhe esilungile. Lokhu ukungabekezelelani nesinengiso. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu esingabekezelelani nesinengiso sidlula ukucabanga ngamehlo engqondo anoma isiphi isidalwa esidaliwe, futhi phakathi kwezidalwa ezingadalwanga, asikho esikwazi ukusiphazamisa noma ukusithinta; ngaphezu kwalokho, akukho okungazenza sona noma kusilinganise. Ngakho, le ngxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu yileyo okufanele isintu siyazi kakhulu. UNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe kuphela onesimo esinje, futhi uNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe kuphela onalo lolu hlobo lwesimo. UNkulunkulu unalolu hlobo lwesimo sokulunga ngoba uzonda inkohlakalo, ubumnyama, ubumbuka kanye nezenzo ezimbi zikaSathane—ukonisa nokushwabadela isintu—ngoba uzonda zonke izenzo zesono ezimelene Naye futhi ngenxa yobukhona Bakhe obungcwele nobumsulwa. Kungenxa yalokhu, ukuthi angavumeli noma isiphi isidalwa esidaliwe noma esingadalwanga ukuthi simelane Naye ngembaba noma sibange Naye. Ngisho umuntu ake akhombisa umusa kuye, noma wamkhetha, udinga nje ukuthi achukuluze isimo Sakhe futhi aphambuke esimisweni Sakhe sesineke nokubekezelelana, futhi uzodedela futhi aveze isimo Sakhe esilungile ngaphandle kwesihe noma ukungabaza—isimo esingabekezelelani nesinengiso.
Ulaka LukaNkulunkulu Lungokokulonda Wonke Amandla Okulunga Kanye Nezinto Ezinhle Zonke
Ngokuqonda lezi zibonelo zenkulumo kaNkulunkulu, imicabango nezenzo, uyakwazi yini ukuqonda isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile, isimo esingeke sanengeka? Ekugcineni, lena ingxenye yesimo esiyingqayizivele kuNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe, akukhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu uqonda kangakanani. Ukungabekezelelani nesinengiso kukaNkulunkulu kungubukhona Bakhe obukhethekile; ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyisimo Sakhe esikhethekile; ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu bungubukhona Bakhe obukhethekile. Isimiso ngemuva kwentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu sikhombisa ubunjalo nesikhundla okunguyena yedwa onaso. Akudingi ukuthi umuntu asho ukuthi kubuye kube nguphawu lobukhona bukaNkulunkulu oyingqayizivele Uqobo Lwakhe. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu singubukhona obusemvelweni Bakhe. Asiguquki nhlobo ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, futhi asiguquki ngokushintsha kwendawo. Isimo Sakhe ngokwemvelo umongo wobukhona Bakhe. Akukhathaleki ukuthi umsebenzi Wakhe uwenza kubani, ubukhona Bakhe abuguquki, futhi nesimo Sakhe esilungile asiguquki. Uma umuntu ethukuthelisa uNkulunkulu, lokho akuthumelayo kuyisimo Sakhe semvelo; ngalesi sikhathi isimiso emuva kwentukuthelo Yakhe asiguquki, futhi nobuyena nesikhundla Sakhe akuguquki. Akathukutheli ngenxa yoshintsho ebukhoneni Bakhe noma ngenxa yokuthi isimo Sakhe sesikhiphe izinto ezihlukile, kodwa ngenxa yesimo somuntu esinengisa isimo Sakhe. Ukucasula ngamabomu komuntu ecasula uNkulunkulu, kuyinselelo enzima kubunjalo nesikhundla sikaNkulunkulu. Ngokubuka kukaNkulunkulu, uma umuntu emphonsela inselelo, umuntu uyambangisa futhi uvivinya intukuthelo Yakhe. Uma umuntu emelana noNkulunkulu, uma umuntu ebanga noNkulunkulu, uma umuntu evivinya intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ephindelela—okwenzeka futhi lapho abantu bephikelela benza isono umathanda—ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngokwemvelo luyaziveza, lubonakale. Ngakho ukubonakalisa kukaNkulunkulu ulaka Lwakhe kuwuphawu lokuthi wonke amandla obumnyama ayoshabalala; kuwuphawu lokuthi wonke amandla obutha ayobhujiswa. Lokhu ubungqayizivele besimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu futhi ngubungqayizivele bolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Uma isizotha nobungcwele bukaNkulunkulu buvivinywa, lapho amandla okulunga evinjelwa futhi engabonwa ngumuntu, uNkulunkulu uthumela ulaka Lwakhe. Ngenxa yobukhona bukaNkulunkulu, wonke la mandla emhlabeni abanga noNkulunkulu, amelana Naye futhi alwe Naye mabi, onakele futhi akalungile; asuka futhi kuSathane. Ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu ulungile, ungowokukhanya futhi ungcwele ngokungenachashazi, konke okubi, okonakele futhi okukaSathane kuyonyamalala ngokudedelwa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu.
Noma ukuthululwa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu kuyingxenye eyodwa yokuvezwa yesimo Sakhe esilungile, intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu akuve kuwukuthi ayikhethi lapho iphokophele khona noma ayinawo umgomo. Ngokuphambene kunalokho, uNkulunkulu akasheshi ukuthukuthela impela, futhi akaluvezi ulaka Lwakhe nobukhosi Bakhe ngamawala. Ukwengeza kulokho, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lungaphansi kolawulo olukhulu futhi lukaliwe; angeke ulufanise nendlela umuntu angabhodla ngolaka ngayo noma akhiphele intukuthelo yakhe. Izingxoxo eziningi zibhaliwe eBhayibhelini. Amazwi abanye balaba bantu ayekha phezulu, ekhombisa ukungabi nalwazi, kanye nobungane, kodwa uNkulunkulu akazange abashaye phansi, futhi akazange abasole. Ikakhulukazi, ngesikhathi sokulingwa kukaJobe, uNkulunkulu uJehova wabaphatha kanjani abangani abathathu baJobe kanye nabanye emuva kokuthi esezwile amazwi ababewakhuluma kuJobe? Wabasola? Wababhokela ngolaka na? Akazange enze lutho olunjalo! Kunalokho, watshela uJobe ukuthi abanxusele, abathandazele; uNkulunkulu, ngakolunye uhlangothi, akazange abambelele emaphutheni abo. Lezi zibonelo zonke zikhombisa umbono osemqoka uNkulunkulu athatha ngawo umuntu owoniwe nongenalwazi. Ngakho, ukudedelwa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu akuyona neze indlela yokukhombisa noma ukuzwakalisa isimo senhliziyo. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu alukona ukuqhuma phezulu kolaka olukhulu njengoba umuntu ekuqonda. UNkulunkulu akathululi ulaka Lwakhe ngoba engakwazi ukulawula isimo senhliziyo Yakhe noma intukuthelo Yakhe seyifike lapho isibila khona futhi seyidinga intuba yokukhululeka. Kunalokho, ulaka Lwakhe lukhombisa isimo Sakhe esilungile kanye nokuzwakaliswa kwangempela kwesimo sakhe esilungile; kuwuphawu lokwembulwa kobukhona Bakhe obungcwele. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu, olungabekezelelani nesinengiso—lokhu akusho ukuthi intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ayihlukanisi phakathi kwezizathu noma akunazimiyalo okumi phezu kwayo; isintu esoniwe esinemvume ngokomthetho ekhethekile yokuba nokudazuluka ngolaka okungenamqondo futhi okungena migomo, okungahlukanisi phakathi kwezizathu. Uma indoda isinesikhundla, ivama ukuthola kunzima ukulawula isimo senhliziyo sayo, ngakho iyaye ikuthokozele ukuthatha amathuba avelayo ukuzwakalisa ukunganeliseki kwayo nokuveza imizwa yayo; ivama ukuqhuma ngolaka ngaphandle kwesizathu esibonakalayo, ukuze iveze amandla ayo futhi yenze abanye bazi ukuthi isikhundla nobunjalo bayo buhlukile kunokwabantu abajwayelekile. Impela, abantu abakhohlakele abangenasikhundla bavamile ukuhluleka ukuzibamba. Ukuthukuthela kwabo kuvame ukudalwa ukonakala kwezinto abazizuzayo umuntu ngamunye. Ukuze bavikele isikhundla nesithunzi sabo, isintu esikhohlakele sivamile ukukhiphela obala imizwa yaso futhi baveze imvelo yabo eqhoshayo. Umuntu uzoqhuma ngolaka futhi akhiphele obala imizwa yakhe ukuze avikele ubukhona kwesono, futhi lezi zenzo izindlela umuntu akhombisa ngazo ukungeneliseki kwakhe. Lezi zenzo zigcwele ukonakala; zigcwele amaqhinga namacebo okuvumelana ngasese; zigcwele ukukhohlakala nobubi bomuntu; Ngaphezu kwalokho, zigcwele ukuzimisela nezifiso zomuntu ezingalawuleki. Lapho ukulungiswa kubanga nenkohlakalo, umuntu ngeke avuke ngentukuthelo ukuvikela ukuba khona kobulungiswa; kunalokho uma amandla obulungiswa ephikiswa, ehlushwa futhi ehlaselwa, umbono wokushalaza nokuziba, ukugwema noma ukuhlasimula. Kepha, lapho ebhekene namandla obubi, umbono womuntu owokuhlinzeka okudingekayo, nokuzibhuqa othulini, nokuzincengela. Ngakho ukukhiphela obala komuntu kungukubalekela amandla obumnyama, ukubonakaliswa kokuziphatha kabi okunganqandeki nokudlangile komuntu ohamba ngokwenyama. Lapho uNkulunkulu ethumela intukuthelo Yakhe, kodwa, wonke amandla obubi ayophela; zonke izono zokulimaza umuntu ziyomiswa; wonke amandla anobutha avimbela umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ayovezwa obala, ahlukaniswe futhi aqalekiswe; bonke abalekeleli baSathane abanesandla ekuphikiseni uNkulunkulu bayojeziswa, bakhishelwe ngaphandle. Endaweni yabo, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu uyoqhubeka ungenazo izingqinamba; uhlelo lukaNkulunkulu lokuphatha luyoqhubeka lukhula isinyathelo ngesinyathelo ngokohlelo olubekiwe; abantu baNkulunkulu abakhethiweyo bayokhululeka ekuphazamiseni nenkohliso kaSathane; labo abalandela uNkulunkulu bayothokozela ukuholwa nokuhlinzekwa nguNkulunkulu ezindaweni ezinokuthula noxolo. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu olokulonda nokuvimba wonke amandla obumnyama ukuba achume enze umathanda, futhi okokulonda okuvikela ubukhona nokwanda kwezinto zonke ezilungile nezinhle futhi kuzigade ingunaphakade ekucindezelweni nokuvukelwa.
Ingabe uyabubona ubukhona bolaka lukaNkulunkulu ekubhujisweni kweSodoma? Ikhona yini into ehlangene nolaka Lwakhe? Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lumsulwa? Ukusebenzisa amazwi omuntu, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu alonakalisiwe? Kukhona iqhinga entukuthelweni Yakhe? Lukhona noma iluphi uzungu? Zikhona noma iziphi izimfihlo ezingekhulunywe? Ngingakutshela kanzima futhi ngesizotha ukuthi: Akukho ngxenye yolaka lukaNkulunkulu olungaholela umuntu ekungabazeni. Intukuthelo Yakhe intukuthelo emsulwa, engaxutshwe nalutho futhi ayifihli ezinye izinhloso noma imigomo. Isizathu sentukuthelo Yakhe simsulwa, asisoleki futhi singaphezu kokugxekwa. Kungukwembulwa kwemvelo nokukhonjiswa kobukhona Bakhe obungcwele; yinto engatholakali kunoma iziphi izidalwa. Lokhu ingxenye yesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu, futhi kungumahluko omkhulu phakathi kobukhona obuhlukene boMdali nendalo Yakhe.
Akukhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu uthukuthela phambi kwabantu noma emuva kwabo, wonke umuntu unenhloso nesizathu esihlukile. Mhlawumbe bakha isithunzi sabo, noma mhlawumbe bavikela okungokwabo, noma bagcina esimeni ububona noma bagwema ihlazo. Abanye bayazibamba ekuthukutheleni kwabo, kepha abanye bathatha ngamawala kakhulu futhi baqhume ngolaka noma inini uma bethanda ngaphandle kokuzibamba nakancane. Ngamafuphi, intukuthelo yomuntu isuka esimweni sakhe esonakele. Ngisho noma iyini inhloso yayo, ingeyenyama nemvelo; ayihlanganise lutho nokulunga nokungalungi ngoba ayikho into emvelweni nasebukhoneni bomuntu ehambisana neqiniso. Ngakho, ulaka lo muntu okhohlakele nolaka lukaNkulunkulu ngeke kuphathwe ngesikhathi esisodwa. Ngaphandle kokukhetha, ukuziphatha komuntu owonakaliswe nguSathane kuqala ngesifiso sokulonda inkohlakalo, futhi kusekelwe inkohlakalo; ngakho intukuthelo yomuntu ngeke iphathwe ngesikhathi esisodwa nolaka lukaNkulunkulu, ngisho noma kubukeka kufanele kangakanani uma ucabanga. Uma uNkulunkulu ethumela ulaka Lwakhe, amandla obumnyama ayanqandwa, izinto ezimbi ziyabhujiswa, kuthi izinto ezilungile nezinhle zithole ukunakekelwa nokuvikelwa nguNkulunkulu, futhi kuyavunyelwa ukuthi kuqhubeke. UNkulunkulu uthumela ulaka Lwakhe ngoba izinto ezingalunganga, eziphikisayo futhi ezimbi ziyavimba, ziphazamise, noma zichithe ukwenzeka okujwayelekile nokukhula kwezinto ezilungile nezinhle. Inhloso yentukuthelo kaNkulunkulu akukhona ukulonda isikhundla nobuyena Bakhe, kodwa ukulonda ukuba khona kwezinto ezilungile, eziyiqiniso, ezinhle futhi ezilungile, ukulonda imithetho nemigomo zokuphila okujwayelekile kwesintu. Lokhu umsuka wolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyisambulo esifanele kakhulu, esiyimvelo, futhi esiyiqiniso sesimo Sakhe. Akukho zinhloso ezinye emuva kolaka Lwakhe, futhi akukho ukukhohlisa noma ukuqamba amacebo; futhi ikakhulukazi, ulaka Lwakhe alunako ukufisa, ubuqili, unya, udlame, ububi nanoma yini enye sonke isintu esikhohlakele esinayo. Ngaphambi kokuthi uNkulunkulu athumele intukuthelo Yakhe, kuba kade useyiqondile ingqikithi yalo lonke udaba futhi esakhile izincazelo neziphetho eziqondile futhi ezicacile. Ngakho, injongo kaNkulunkulu kulo lonke udaba alwenzayo, icace bha, ngokunjalo umbono Wakhe. Akadidekile; akayona impumputhe; akenzi engacabanganga; akuve engenandaba; ngaphezu kwalokho, akuyena umuntu ongenamiyalo. Lokhu ingxenye ebonakalayo yolaka lukaNkulunkulu futhi kungenxa yale ngxenye ebonakalayo yolaka lukaNkulunkulu, ukuthi isintu sesithole ukuphila nokuba khona okujwayelekile. Ngaphandle kolaka lukaNkulunkulu, isintu singaphila ngaphansi kwesimo esingakulungelanga ukuphila; zonke izinto ezineqiniso, ezinhle nezilungile zingachithakala zingabe zisaba khona. Ngaphandle kolaka lukaNkulunkulu, imithetho nemigomo elawula indalo ingaphulwa noma iphendukezelwe ngokuphelele. Selokhu adala umuntu uNkulunkulu ubelokhu esebenzisa isimo Sakhe sokulunga ukulonda nokugcina ukuba khona okujwayelekile kwesintu. Ngenxa yokuthi isimo Sakhe esilungile sinolaka, nobukhosi, bonke abantu ababi, izinto, okuthile nazo zonke izinto eziphazamisa futhi zilimaze ubukhona obujwayelekile besintu, ziyajeziswa, zilawulwe futhi ziqothulwe ngenxa yolaka Lwakhe. Ezigidini zeminyaka eminingi edlule, uNkulunkulu ubelokhu eqhubeka ukusebenzisa isimo esilungile Sakhe ukushaya phansi futhi aqothule zonke izinhlobo zemimoya engcolile nemibi emelene noNkulunkulu futhi esebenza njengabalekeleli nezikhonzi zikaSathane emsebenzini Wakhe wokuphatha isintu. Ngakho, umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wokusindisa umuntu bewuhlala uhamba ngendlela yohlelo Lwakhe. Lokhu kungukuthi, ngenxa yokubakhona kolaka lukaNkulunkulu, imbangela elungile kakhulu kubantu ayikaze ichithakale.
Njengoba sewonokuqonda ngobukhona bolaka lukaNkulunkulu, kumele engabe usuyiqonda kangcono indlela yokuhlukanisa ububi bukaSathane!
Nakuba USathane Ebukeka Enobuntu, Elungile, Emuhle, Ubukhona Bakhe Bunonya NoBubi
USathane unqoba udumo ngokukhohlisa umphakathi. Uvame ukuzimisa njengemaphikankani nesibonelo sokulunga. Ezishaya njengomlondi wokulunga, ulimaza abantu, ashwabadele imiphefumulo yabo, asebenzise izinto eziningi ukwenza umuntu abe ndikindiki, amkhohlise futhi amhlohle amchukuluze. Umgomo wakhe ukwenza umuntu avumelane futhi alandele ukuziphatha kambi kwakhe, ukwenza umuntu amlandele ekumeleni igunya nobukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Kepha, lapho umuntu esewahlakaniphela amaqhinga, amacebo kanye nokubukeka kabi kwakhe futhi engasafuni ukuqhubeka ukunyathelwa nokukhohliswa, noma ukuqhubeka abe yisigqila sakhe noma ajeziswe futhi abhubhiswe kanye naye, uSathane uyashintsha izici zakhe zobungcwelengcwele futhi adabule imaski yamanga, ukuveza ubuso bakhe bangempela obubi, obunonya, obumahlikihliki nobunobudlova. Ayikho into angayithanda ukudlula ukuqothula bonke labo abanqabayo ukumlandela futhi labo abamelene namandla obubi. Ngaleso sikhathi, uSathane akasakwazi ukuziveza enokubukeka okuthembekile kwencwasimende; kunalokho, izici zakhe zangempela ezimahlikihliki nezimbi ziyavela ngaphansi kwezingubo zemvu. Lapho amaqhinga kaSathane esevele obala, lapho izici zakhe zangempela sezivele obala, uvuka umbhejazane, avuke ngolaka, aveze unya lwakhe; isifiso sakhe sokulimaza nokushwabadela abantu siyakhula siqonge kakhulu. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi kumvusa ulaka ukuphaphama komuntu; uba nesifiso esikhulu sokuziphindiselela kumuntu ngenxa yentshisekelo yabo ukulangazelela inkululeko kanye nokukhanya kanye nokukhululeka ejele lakhe. Ulaka lwakhe luhlose ukuvikela ububi bakhe, futhi luyisambulo sangempela semvelo yakhe enonya.
Kulo lonke udaba ngalunye, ukuziphatha kukaSathane kuveza obala imvelo yakhe embi. Ezenzweni zonke ezimbi uSathane ake wazenza kumuntu—kusukela emizamweni yakhe yasekuqaleni lapho ayezama ukudukisa umuntu ukuthi amlandele, ukuxhaphaza kwakhe umuntu, lapho edonsela umuntu ezenzweni zakhe ezimbi, kanye nokuziphindiselela kwaSathane kumuntu emuva kokuthi izici zakhe zangempela sezivele obala nomuntu esekubonile lokhu futhi wamshiya—asikho nesisodwa esihlulekayo ukudalula ingqikithi kaSathane embi; asikho nesisodwa esihlulekayo ukufakazela ukuthi uSathane akahlanganise lutho nezinto ezilungile; asikho nesisodwa esihlulekayo ukufakazela ukuthi uSathane umthombo wazo zonke izinto ezimbi. Zonke izenzo zakhe zilonda ububi bakhe, zigcina ukuqhubeka kwezenzo zakhe ezimbi, ziyaphambana kanye nezinto ezilungile nezinhle, zimosha imithetho nokuhleleka kwempilo ejwayelekile yesintu. Zinobutha noNkulunkulu, futhi ziyilokho ulaka lukaNkulunkulu oluzozibhubhisa. Nakuba uSathane enolwakhe ulaka, ulaka lwakhe luyindlela yokukhiphela ngaphandle imvelo yakhe embi. Isizathu sokuthi uSathane ecasukile futhi evuka indlobane yilokhu: amaqhinga akhe angakhulumeki asedaluliwe; amacebo akhe awaphumeleli kalula; ukuzimisela nesifiso Sakhe esidlangile sokuthatha indawo kaNkulunkulu nokuzenza uNkulunkulu sishaywe phansi savinjwa; umgomo wakhe wokulawula sonke isintu uphenduke ize manje futhi ngeke usaphinde wenzeke. Ukubiza kukaNkulunkulu ulaka Lwakhe ngokuphindelela, okumise amacebo kaSathane ukuthi afezeke futhi kwanqamula ukusabalala nokudlanga kobubi bukaSathane; ngakho, uSathane uyalusaba futhi uyaluzonda, kokubili, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu. Njalo, ukusetshenziswa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu akususi nje imaski yokubukeka kukaSathane kwangempela okunyanyekayo; kudalula izifiso zikaSathane ekukhanyeni. Ngaso leso sikhathi ulaka lukaSathane analo ngabantu luvela obala ngokuphelele. Ukuqhuma kolaka lukaSathane kuyisambulo sangempela semvelo yakhe embi, kungukudalulwa kwamaqhinga akhe. Empeleni, sonke isikhathi lapho uSathane evuka ulaka, kubika ukuchithakala kwezinto ezimbi; kubika ukuvikeleka nokuqhubeka kwezinto ezilungile, futhi kubika imvelo yolaka lukaNkulunkulu—lolo olungeke lungengeke!
Umuntu Akufanele Athembele Ekuzizweleni Nasekuboneni Ngamehlo Engqondo Ukwazi Isimo sikaNkulunkulu Esilungile
Uma uzithola ubhekene nokwahlulela nokusolwa uNkulunkulu, uzothi izwi likaNkulunkulu lingcolisiwe? Uzothi kunendaba ethile ngemuva kolaka lukaNkulunkulu, nokuthi ulaka lwakhe lungcolisiwe? Uzomhleba uNkulunkulu, uthi isimo Sakhe asilunganga ngokuphelele? Uma ubhekana nazo zonke izenzo zikaNkulunkulu, kufanele ube nesiqiniseko ukuthi isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu sikhululekile kuzo zonke izakhi, ukuthi singcwele futhi asinasici; lezi zenzo zihlanganise ukushaya phansi kukaNkulunkulu, ukusola kanye nokubhubhisa isintu. Ngaphandle kokukhetha, zonke izenzo zikaNkulunkulu zenziwa ngokuhambisana nesimo Sakhe semvelo kanye nohlelo Lwakhe—lokhu akuhlangene nolwazi, amasiko nefilosofi yesintu—zonke izenzo zikaNkulunkulu ziwukuvezwa kwesimo nobukhona Bakhe, kungaxhumene nalutho lwesintu esikhohlakele. Emicabangweni yomuntu, kuphela uthando, nesihe, nokubekezelelana kukaNkulunkulu akunasici, akungcolisiwe futhi kungcwele. Kepha, akekho owaziyo ukuthi ulaka olusabisayo lukaNkulunkulu, kanye nolaka Lwakhe nalo ngokufana, alungcolisiwe; ngaphezu kwalokho, akekho oseke wacabanga ngemibuzo enjengokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu engabekezeleli isinengiso nhlobo, nokuthi kungani ulaka Lwakhe lulukhulu kangaka. Ngephutha, abanye bayaphambuka babone ulaka lukaNkulunkulu njengolaka lwesintu; baqonda intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu njengolaka lomuntu okhohlakele; ngephutha baze bacabangele ukuthi ulaka olukhulu lukaNkulunkulu, lufana ncamashi nokwembulwa kwemvelo kwesimo esikhohlakele somuntu. Ngephutha bakholwa ukuthi ukukhishwa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu kufana nse nentukuthelo yomuntu okhohlakele, evela ekucasukeni; baze bakholwe ukuthi ukukhishwa kolaka lukaNkulunkulu kungukuvezwa kwesimo senhliziyo Yakhe. Emuva kwale ntshumayelo, ngethemba ukuthi nonke enikhona ngeke nisaba nemibono eyiphutha, imicabango yamehlo engqondo noma ukucabanga ngesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu. Futhi ngethemba ukuthi emuva kokuzwa amazwi Ami, nizoba nokuqonda ngolaka lwesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zenu, nokuthi ningabeka eceleni noma ikuphi ukuqonda okuyiphutha kwangaphambilini ngolaka lukaNkulunkulu, nokuthi ningashintsha izinkolelo nemibono yenu eyiphutha ngobukhona bolaka lukaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngethemba ukuthi nizoba nencazelo eqondile yesimo sikaNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zenu, ukuthi ngeke nisaba nokungabaza ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile, nokuthi ngeke niphoqelele nibeke ukucabangisisa nokubona ngamehlo engqondo komuntu, phezu kwesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu. Isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu ngubukhona bukaNkulunkulu bangempela. Akuyona into ebhalwe noma yakhiwa umuntu. Isimo esilungile Sakhe, yisimo esilungile Sakhe futhi asinabo ubudlelwano futhi asihlanganise lutho nanoma iyiphi indalo. UNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe nguNkulunkulu Uqobo Lwakhe. Akasoze aba yingxenye yendalo, futhi ngisho angaba yilunga phakathi kwezidalwa ezidaliwe, isimo nobukhona Bakhe bemvelo ngeke buguquke. Ngakho-ke, ukwazi uNkulunkulu akukona ukwazi into; akukona ukuhlinza into ethile, futhi akusikho ukuqonda umuntu. Uma usebenzisa umbono noma indlela yakho yokwazi into noma yokuqonda umuntu ukwazi uNkulunkulu, ngeke uze ukwazi ukuthola ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Ukwazi uNkulunkulu akuncikile esipiliyonini noma ukubona ngamehlo engqondo, futhi yingakho kungafanele uphoqe ukubeka isipiliyoni noma ukubona kwakho ngamehlo engqondo, kuNkulunkulu. Akukhathaliseki ukuthi sinothe kangakanani isipiliyoni noma ukucabanga kwakho ngamehlo engqondo, kusenemigomo; okudlula lokho, ukubona kwakho ngamehlo engqondo akuhambisani nezehlakalo, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi akuhambisani neqiniso, futhi akusebenzisani nesimo nobukhona bukaNkulunkulu bangempela. Awusoze waphumelela uma uthembela ekucabangeni kwakho ngamehlo engqondo ukuze uqonde ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu. Indlela okuyiyonayona ihamba kanje: yemukela konke lokho okuvela kuNkulunkulu, bese kancane kancane uyazizwela futhi ukuqonda kona. Kuzofika ilanga lapho uNkulunkulu eyokukhanyisela ukuze umqonde futhi umazi ngempela ngenxa yokubambisana kwakho Naye nangenxa yokulambela nokomela kwakho iqiniso. Futhi ngalokho, asiphethe le ngxenye yengxoxo yethu.
Abantu Banqoba Isihe Nokubekezelelwa NguNkulunkulu Ngokuphenduka Kweqiniso
Okulandelayo endabeni yaseBhayibhelini “yokusindiswa kweNineve nguNkulunkulu”
(Jona 1:1-2) Manje izwi leNKOSI lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi, Suka, uye eNineve, idolobha elikhulu, umemezele kulo; ngokuba ububi babo benyukele phambi kwami.
(Jona 3) Futhi izwi leNKOSI lefika kuJona okwesibili, lathi, Suka, uye eNineve, idolobha elikhulu, ushumayele kulo intshumayelo engiyethula kuwe. Ngakho uJona wayesesuka, futhi waya eNineve, njengokwezwi leNKOSI. Manje iNineve yayiyidolobha elikhulu lohambo lwezinsuku ezintathu. Futhi uJona waqala ukungena edolobheni ngohambo losuku, wamemeza wayesethi: Ezinsukwini ezingamashumi amane, liyakuchithwa iNineve. Ngakho abantu baseNineve bakholwa uNkulunkulu, futhi bamemezela ukuzila, base bembatha indwangu yamasaka, kusukela kwabadala babo kuya kwabancane kunabo bonke. Ngokuba izwi lafika enkosini yaseNineve, futhi yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yabeka ingubo yayo, futhi yazimboza ngendwangu yamasaka, yase ihlala emlotheni. Yaze yamemezela futhi yatshela iNinive ngomthetho wenkosi nabakhulu bayo, yathi, makungabi bikho muntu noma isilwane, umhlambi wezinkomo noma owezimvu onambitha utho, mabangadli lutho futhi bangaphuzi manzi: Kepha abantu nezilwane mabambozwe ngendwangu yamasaka, futhi kukhalwe kakhulu kuNkulunkulu: yebo, kuphenduke wonke umuntu endleleni yakhe embi, nasebudloveni obusezandleni zabo. Ngubani owaziyo ukuthi uNkulunkulu engabuya futhi azisole, futhi adede ekufutheni kwentukuthelo yakhe, ukuthi singabhubhi na? Lapho uNkulunkulu wase ebona izenzo zabo, ukuthi babuyile endleleni yabo embi; uNkulunkulu wase ezisola kokubi, ayesekushilo ukuthi uzokwenza kubo; futhi akabange esakwenza.
(Jona 4) Kodwa kwaba kubi kakhulu kuJona, wase ethukuthela kakhulu. Wabe esethandaza eNKOSINI, futhi wathi, ngiyakhuleka, O NKOSI, kwakungesikho yini engangikukhulumile, ngenkathi ngisezweni lami na? Ngalokho ngabalekela eTharishishi phambilini: ngokuba ngazi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu onomusa, nonesihe, owephuza ukuthukuthela, nomnene impela, futhi ozisolayo ngokubi. Ngalokho manje, O NKOSI, ngiyacela, ususe, ukuphila kwami kimi; ngokuba kungcono kimi ukuba ngife kunokuphila. Yayisithi iNKOSI, ingabe wenza kahle ukuba uthukuthele na? Ngakho uJona wayesephuma edolobheni, wahlala ngasempumalanga kwedolobha, wase ezenzela idokodo khona, futhi wahlala phansi kwalo emthunzini, ukuze abone isiphetho ngedolobha. INKOSI uNkulunkulu yamlungisela umhlakuva, futhi yawukhulisa phezu kukaJona ukuba ube ngumthunzi phezu kwekhanda lakhe, ukumephula ekudabukeni kwakhe. Ngakho uJona wajabula kakhulu ngomhlakuva. Kepha ngakusasa ekuseni uNkulunkulu walungiselela isibungu, sase siwuphehla umhlakuva wase ubuna. Kwathi lapho, kuphuma ilanga, uNkulunkulu wase elungisa umoya onamandla wasempumalanga; ilanga lashaya ngqo ekhanda likaJona, wawa, futhi wazifisela yena uqobo ukufa, futhi wathi, kungcono ngife kunokuphila. Wayesethi uNkulunkulu kuJona, ingabe wenza kahle yini ukuba uthukuthele ngenxa yomhlakuva na? Wayesethi, ngenza kahle ngokuthukuthela, kuze kube ngisho nasekufeni. Yayisithi iNKOSI, wena uhawukela umhlakuva, ongawusebenzelanga, futhi wawukhulisa; omile nje ngobusuku bunye, futhi ubhubhe ebusuku: Mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela yini iNinive, idolobha elikhulu, lapho kukhona kulo abantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sokunene nesandla sokunxele; kanye nezinkomo eziningi na?
Amazwibela ENdaba YaseNineve
Nakuba indaba yokusindiswa kweNineve nguNkulunkulu imfushane ngobude, isivumela ukuba sithi ukubona enye ingxenye yesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu. Ukuze uqonde nempela ukuthi lena enye ingxenye iquketheni, kufuneka sibuyele kuMbhalo bese sibheka emuva sibuke esinye sezenzo zikaNkulunkulu.
Masiqale sibuke ekuqaleni kwale ndaba: “Manje izwi leNKOSI lafika kuJona indodana ka-Amithayi, lathi, Suka, uye eNineve, idolobha elikhulu, umemezele kulo; ngokuba ububi babo benyukele phambi kwami” (Jona 1:1-2). Kule ndima yoMbhalo, siyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uJehova wayala uJona ukuba aye emzini waseNineve. Ingabe wamyalelani uJona ukuba ahambe aye kulo muzi? IBhayibheli licacisile kakhulu ngalokhu: ukukhohlakala kwabantu bakulo muzi kwase kufinyelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu uJehova, ngakho-ke Wathumela uJona ukuba amemezele kubo lokho ayehlose ukukwenza. Lapho kungekho lutho olubhaliwe olusitshelayo ukuthi uJona wabe engubani, lokhu, empeleni, akuhlangene nokwazi uNkulunkulu. Ngakho, anidingi ukuqonda le ndoda. Nidinga ukwazi ukuthi yini uNkulunkulu amyala uJona ukuba ayenze nokuthi kungani enza into enje.
Isexwayiso SikaNkulunkulu Sifinyelela KuBantu BaseNineve
Masiqhubeke siye endimeni yesibili, isahluko sesithathu seNcwadi kaJona: “Futhi uJona waqala ukungena edolobheni ngohambo losuku, wamemeza wayesethi: Ezinsukwini ezingamashumi amane, liyakuchithwa iNineve.” Lawa ngamazwi uNkulunkulu awadlulisa kuJona ngqo ukuba awatshele abaseNineve. Futhi ngamazwi, ngokwemvelo, uNkulunkulu ayefisa ukuwatshela abantu baseNineve. La mazwi atshela abantu ukuthi uNkulunkulu waqala ukwenyanya nokuzonda abantu balo muzi ngenxa yokuthi ukukhohlakala kwabo kwase kufinyelele emehlweni Akhe, ngakho wayefisa ukuwubhubhisa lo muzi. Kepha, ngaphambili kokuthi uNkulunkulu abhubhise umuzi, wayezokwenza isimemezelo kubantu baseNineve, futhi ngesikhathi esisodwa, wayezobanika ithuba lokuphenduka ekukhohlakaleni kwabo futhi baqale kabusha. Leli thuba lalizoba khona izinsuku ezingamshumi amane. Ngamanye amazwi, uma abantu ngaphakathi kwalo muzi babengaphenduki, bavume izono zabo noma baziphonse phansi phambili kukaNkulunkulu uJehova zingakapheli izinsuku ezingamashumi amane, uNkulunkulu wayezowubhubhisa umuzi njengoba enza eSodoma. Yilokhu uNkulunkulu uJehova ayefisa ukukutshela abantu baseNineve. Ngokusobala, lokhu kwabe kungesona isimemezelo esilula. Asikhombisanga kuphela intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu uJehova kodwa, sakhombisa umbono Wakhe ngabantu baseNineve; ngaleso sikhathi futhi lesi simemezelo esilula saba isexwayiso esinzima kubantu. Lesi sixwayiso sabatshela ukuthi izenzo zabo zokukhohlakala zase zibaholise ngokuzondwa uNkulunkulu uJehova, futhi kwabatshela ukuthi izenzo zabo zokukhohlakala zazizobaletha engcupheni yokubhujiswa; ngakho-ke izimpilo zabo bonke eNineve zazizulelwa ngamanqe.
UMahluko Omkhulu Phakathi Kokuphendula Kwabantu BaseNineve NabaseSodoma Esixwayisweni SikaNkulunkulu UJehova
Kuchaza ukuthini ukuchithwa? Ngamazwi alula, kuchaza ukunyamalala. Kodwa kanjani?Ubani owayengenza umuzi wonke unyamalale? Kungeke kwenzeke ukuba umuntu enze into enjalo, empeleni. Laba bantu babengezona iziwula; bathi bangasizwa lesi simemezelo, baqonda. Bazi ukuthi sasivele kuNkulunkulu; babazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wabe ezokwenza umsebenzi Wakhe; bazi ukuthi ukukhohlakala kwabo kwase kuvuse ulaka lukaNkulunkulu uJehova futhi kwaletha intukuthelo Yakhe phezu kwabo, ngendlela yokuthi maduzane nje, base bezobhujiswa kanye nomuzi wabo. Baziphatha kanjani abantu balo muzi emuva kokulalela isexwayiso sikaNkulunkulu uJehova? IBhayibheli liyachaza ngemininingwane ethile ukuthi laba bantu baziphatha kanjani kusukela enkosini yabo kuya kumuntu ovamile. Njengoba kubhaliwe emiBhalweni: “Ngakho abantu baseNineve bakholwa uNkulunkulu, futhi bamemezela ukuzila, base bembatha indwangu yamasaka, kusukela kwabadala babo kuya kwabancane kunabo bonke. Ngokuba izwi lafika enkosini yaseNineve, futhi yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yabeka ingubo yayo, futhi yazimboza ngendwangu yamasaka, yase ihlala emlotheni. Yaze yamemezela futhi yatshela iNinive ngomthetho wenkosi nabakhulu bayo, yathi, makungabi bikho muntu noma isilwane, umhlambi wezinkomo noma owezimvu onambitha utho, mabangadli lutho futhi bangaphuzi manzi: Kepha abantu nezilwane mabambozwe ngendwangu yamasaka, futhi kukhalwe kakhulu kuNkulunkulu: yebo, kuphenduke wonke umuntu endleleni yakhe embi, nasebudloveni obusezandleni zabo….”
Emuva kokuzwa isimemezelo sikaNkulunkulu uJehova, abantu baseNineve baba nombono ohlukile kunabantu baseSodoma—abantu baseSodoma baphikisana noNkulunkulu obala, baqhubekela phambili besuka ebubini beya ebubini, kodwa emuva kokuzwa lamagama, abantu baseNineve abazange bayizibe indaba, noma baphike ngenkani; esikhundleni salokho bakholwa nguNkulunkulu bamemezela ukuzila. Kuchaza ukuthini ukuthi “bakholwa” lapha? Igama lilodwa lisho ukholo nokuzithoba. Uma sisebenzisa ukuziphatha kwabantu baseNineve uqobo ukuchaza leli gama, kuchaza ukuthi bakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayengakwazi futhi wayezokwenza njengoba eshilo nokuthi babezimisele ukuphenduka. Abantu baseNineve bafikelwa ukwesaba ebusweni benhlekelele enkulu eseduze kakhulu? Inkolelo yabo yafaka ukwesaba ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngakho singasebenzisani ukufakazela inkolelo nokwesaba kwabantu baseNineve? Kunjengoba iBhayibheli lisho: “bamemezela ukuzila, base bembatha indwangu yamasaka, kusukela kwabadala babo kuya kwabancane kunabo bonke.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi abaseNineve bakholwa, nokuthi kusuka kuleyo nkolelo, kwafika ukwesaba, okwabaholela ekuzileni nokugqoka indwangu yamasaka. Bakukhombisa kanje ukuqala kokuphenduka kwabo. Ngendlela ehluke ngokuphelele kunabantu baseSodoma, abantu baseNineve abazange nje kuphela bangaphikisani noNkulunkulu, kodwa futhi bakhombisa ngokusobala ukuzisola kwabo nokuphenduka ngokuziphatha nangezenzo zabo. Empeleni lokhu akuzange kwenziwe ngabantu abajwayelekile baseNineve kuphela; nenkosi yabo yenza ngokufanayo.
Ukuphenduka KweNkosi YaseNineve Kunqoba Ukunconywa NguNkulunkulu
Kwathi lapho inkosi yaseNineve izwa lezi zindaba, yasukuma esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi, yagqoka indwangu yamasaka futhi yahlala emlotheni. Yabe isimemezela ukuthi akukho muntu kulo muzi owayezovunyelwa ukuthi adle noma yini kanye nokuthi akukho mfuyo, izimvu kanye nezinkunzi azazivunyelwe ukudla noma ukuphuza amanzi. Abantu kanye nemfuyo bonke kwakufanele kumbathe indwangu yamasaka; abantu babezoncenga ngokukhuthazela uNkulunkulu. Inkosi yamemeza futhi ukuthi bonke babezozishiya izindlela zabo ezimbi bashiye nobudlova ezandleni zabo. Uma sahlulela ngokubuka ukulandelana kwezigameko, inkosi yaseNineve yakhombisa ukuphenduka okuvela enhliziyweni. Uchungechunge lwezenzo azithatha—ukusukuma esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi, ukulahla izingubo zakhe zobukhosi, ukugqoka indwangu yamasaka nokuhlala emlotheni—kutshela abantu ukuthi inkosi yaseNineve yabeka eceleni isikhundla sayo sobukhosi yagqoka indwangu yamasaka kanye nabantu abajwayelekile. Lokhu kusho ukuthi inkosi yaseNineve ayizange ihlale esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi ukuqhubeka nezindlela zayo ezimbi noma ubudlova ezandleni zayo emuva kokuzwa isimemezelo esivela kuNkulunkulu uJehova; kunalokho, wabeka eceleni igunya abe enalo futhi waphenduka phambi kukaNkulunkulu uJehova. Ngalo mzuzu, inkosi yaseNineve ayiphendukanga njengenkosi; yayize phambi kukaNkulunkulu ukuzovuma nokuphenduka ezonweni zayo njengesikhonzi esijwayelekile sikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, yatshela umuzi wonke ukuthi uvume izono futhi uphenduke phambi kwaNkulunkulu uJehova ngendlela efana neyakhe; Ukwengeza kulokho, wayenohlelo oluthize lokuthi kungenziwa kanjani lokhu, njengoba sibona kuMbhalo: “Makungabi bikho muntu noma isilwane, umhlambi wezinkomo noma owezimvu onambitha utho, mabangadli lutho futhi bangaphuzi manzi: ... kukhalwe kakhulu kuNkulunkulu: yebo, kuphenduke wonke umuntu endleleni yakhe embi, nasebudloveni obusezandleni zabo.” Njengombusi womuzi, inkosi yaseNineve yabe inesikhundla esiphakeme namandla kunabo bonke futhi yayingenza noma yini eyithandayo. Lapho ibhekene nesimemezelo sikaNkulunkulu uJehova, yayengayiziba le ndaba noma iphenduke futhi ivume izono zayo iyodwa; noma abantu bakulo muzi babekhethe ukuphenduka, noma cha, wayengayiziba le ndaba ngokuphelele. Kepha, inkosi yaseNineve ayizange neze ikwenze lokho. Ayizange isukume esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi kuphela, imbathe indwangu yamasaka nomlotha, futhi ivume, iphenduke ezonweni zayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu uJehova, kodwa yayala bonke abantu nemfuyo kulo muzi ukuthi benze njalo. Yaze yayala abantu ukuthi “kukhalwe kakhulu kuNkulunkulu.” Ngalo chungechunge lwe zenzo, inkosi yaseNinive yafeza lokho umbusi ekufanele akwenze; uchungechunge lwezenzo zakhe lwabe lunzima ukuthi inoma iyiphi inkosi emlandweni wesintu ilwenze futhi akekho owake walwenza. Lezi zenzo kungathiwa izenzo ezingakaze zibekhona emlandweni wesintu; zifanele ukuthi zikhunjulwe futhi zilingiswe kokubili, yisintu. Selokhu kwaba khona umuntu, wonke amakhosi ayehole abantu bawo ukuba bamelane futhi baphikise uNkulunkulu. Ayikho eyake yahola abantu bayo ukuba bancenge uNkulunkulu ukufuna ukuhlengwa ngenxa yokukhohlakala kwabo, ukuthola ukuxolelwa nguNkulunkulu uJehova nokugwema ukujeziswa okwabe sekuseduze. Inkosi yaseNineve, kodwa, yakwazi ukuhola abantu bayo ukubuyela kuNkulunkulu, ukushiya izindlela zabo ezihlukene ezimbi kanye nokulahla ubudlova ezandleni zabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wakwazi ukubeka eceleni isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi, futhi, njengomvuzo, uNkulunkulu wajika futhi waphenduka futhi wahoxisa intukuthelo Yakhe, wabavumela abantu bakulo muzi ukuthi basinde futhi wabagcina ukuthi bangabhubhi. Izenzo zenkosi kungathiwa isimangaliso esingavamile emlandweni wesintu; zingabizwa nangokuthi ziyisibonelo sesintu esikhohlakele sivuma futhi siphenduka ezonweni zaso phambili kukaNkulunkulu.
UNkulunkulu Uyakubona UkuPhenduka Kweqiniso Ekujuleni Kwezinhliziyo Zabantu BaseNineve
Ngemva kokulalela isimemezelo sikaNkulunkulu, inkosi yaseNineve nabantu bayo benza izigameko ezilandelanayo. Yayini inhlobo yokuziphatha nezenzo zabo? Ngamanye amazwi, yini ingqikithi yakho konke abakwenza? Kungani benza lokho abakwenza? Emehlweni kaNkulunkulu babephenduke ngokweqiniso, hhayi kuphela ngoba babekade bencenge ngeqiniso uNkulunkulu futhi bavuma izono zabo phambi Kwakhe, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi babeyishiye phansi imikhuba nezinto ababe zenza. Benza njalo ngoba emuva kokuzwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu, baba nokwesaba okumangalisayo futhi bakholwa ukuthi wayezokwenza njengoba eshilo. Ngokuzila ukudla nokuphuzwayo, ukumbatha indwangu yamasaka kanye nokuhlala emlotheni, babefisa ukukhombisa ukuzimisela kwabo ukushintsha izindlela zabo, bayeke ukukhohlakala, ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu uJehova ukuba ehlise ulaka Lwakhe, ukuncenga uNkulunkulu uJehova ukuba ahoxise isinqumo Sakhe kanye nenhlekelele eyayizobehlela. Ngokuhlola konke abakwenza siyabona ukuthi babeqonda ukuthi izenzo zabo zokukhohlakala zangaphambilini zazinengeka kuNkulunkulu uJehova futhi babeqonda isizathu ayezobabhubhisela sona maduzane. Ngale zizathu, bafisa bonke ukuphenduka ngokuphelele, ukushiya izindlela zabo ezimbi nokulahla ubudlova ezandleni zabo. Ngamanye amazwi, bathi bangezwa ngesimemezelo sikaNkulunkulu, bonke, ngamunye ngamunye bafikelwa ukwesaba ezinhliziyweni zabo, ababange besaqhubeka nokuziphatha okukhohlakele futhi abaqhubekanga benza lezo zenzo ezazizondwa nguNkulunkulu uJehova. Ukwengeza, bancenga uNkulunkulu uJehova ukuba abaxolele izono zabo zangaphambilini futhi nokuthi angabaphathi ngendlela ebafanele ngenxa yezenzo zabo ezimbi. Babezimisele ukuthi bangaphinde benze ukukhohlakala futhi benze ngendlela eshiwo uNkulunkulu uJehova, ukuze nje bangaphinde bacasule uNkulunkulu uJehova. Ukuphenduka kwabo kwabe kusuka enhliziyweni futhi kuphelele. Kwakuvela ekujuleni kwezinhliziyo zabo futhi kwakungekhona okokuzenzisa futhi kwakungekona okwesikhashana.
Lapho abantu baseNineve, kusuka enkosini yabo ephakeme kuya kubantu bayo, sebezwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu uJehova wayebathukuthelele, zonke izenzo zabo, nakho konke ukuziphatha kwabo, kanye nazo zonke izinqumo nekukhetha kwabo kwakucacile futhi kusobala emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu yashintsha ngenxa yokuziphatha kwabo. Kwakunjani ukucabanga kwabo ngoNkulunkulu ngaleso sikhathi? IBhayibheli lingakuphendulela lowo mbuzo. Njengoba kubhaliwe kuMbhalo:“Lapho uNkulunkulu wase ebona izenzo zabo, ukuthi babuyile endleleni yabo embi; uNkulunkulu wase ezisola kokubi, ayesekushilo ukuthi uzokwenza kubo; futhi akabange esakwenza.” Nakuba uNkulunkulu washintsha umqondo Wakhe, yayingekho into enkimbinkimbi ngesimilo semqondo Wakhe. Wasuka ekuzwakaliseni intukuthelo Yakhe, waya ekudambiseni intukuthelo Yakhe, futhi wabe esenquma ukungasilethi isigemegeme phezu komuzi waseNineve. Isizathu esabangela ukuthi isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu—ukuphephisa abantu baseNineve kulesi sigemegeme—sisheshe kakhulu, ingoba uNkulunkulu wabona inhliziyo yomuntu ngamunye eNineve. Wabona ababenakho ekujuleni kwezinhliziyo zabo: ukuvuma ngeqiniso nokuphenduka ezonweni zabo, ukukholwa kwabo ngeqiniso Kuye, nomuzwa ojulile ababenawo ngokuthi izenzo zabo zokukhohlakala zazivuse ulaka esimweni Sakhe, kanye nokwesaba okwalandela besaba isijeziso esase siseduze. Ngaleso sikhathi uNkulunkulu wezwa imithandazo ephuma ekujuleni kwezinhliziyo zabo bemncenga ukuthi asuse ulaka Lwakhe kubo, ukuze bakwazi ukugwema isigemegeme. Lapho uNkulunkulu ebuka zonke lezi zehlakalo, kancane kancane intukuthelo yakhe yaphela. Akukhathaleki ukuthi ulaka Lwakhe lwalulukhulu kangakanani ngaphambilini, kwathi lapho ebona ukuphenduka ngeqiniso ekujuleni kwezinhliziyo zalaba bantu, inhliziyo Yakhe yathinteka, ngakho kwaba nzima Kuye ukuletha isigemegeme kubo, futhi wayeka ukubathukuthelela. Esikhundleni salokho waqhubeka wabakhombisa isihe nokubekezelela Kwakhe futhi waqhubeka wabaqondisa futhi wabapha.
Uma Ukukholwa Kwakho KuNkulunkulu Kuyiqiniso, Uzovama Ukuthola Ukunakekelwa Nguye
Ukuguquka kukaNkulunkulu ngezinhloso aye nazo ngabantu baseNineve, akunakungqikangqikaza noma ukudideka. Kepha, kwakungukuguquka kusuka entukuthelweni emsulwa kuya ekubekezeleleni okumsulwa. Lokhu ukwembulwa kwangempela kobukhona bukaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu akabi mangqikangqika noma angabaze ezenzweni Zakhe; izimiso kanye nezinhloso ezingemuva kwezenzo Zakhe zicacile futhi zisobala, zimsulwa futhi azinasici, azinamaqhinga noma amacebo ahlangene phakathi. Ngamanye amazwi, ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu abunabumnyama noma ububi. UNkulunkulu waba nentukuthelo nabantu baseNineve ngoba izenzo zabo zokukhohlakala zazifinyelele emehlweni Akhe; ngaleso sikhathi intukuthelo yakhe yayiveza ubukhona Bakhe. Kepha, lapho intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu inyamalala, waphinda waletha ukubekezelela phezu kwabantu baseNineve, konke akuveza kwabe kusewubukhona Bakhe. Lolu shintsho selulonke lwalu ngenxa yokushintsha kokucabanga komuntu ngoNkulunkulu. Ngalesi sikhathi sisonke, isimo sikaNkulunkulu esinganengeki asizange siguquke; ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu ebekezelelayo ayizange iguquke; ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu obunothando nesihe abuzange buguquke. Uma abantu benza izenzo ezingukukhohlakala futhi benenga uNkulunkulu, uzoletha intukuthelo Yakhe phezu kwabo. Uma abantu bephenduka ngeqiniso, inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu iyashintsha futhi intukuthelo Yakhe iyaphela. Uma abantu beqhubeka bephikisana noNkulunkulu, ulaka Lwakhe olukhulu ngeke luphele; ulaka Lwakhe luzoya lubacindezela kancane kancane baze babhubhe. Lokhu ubukhona besimo sikaNkulunkulu. Akukhathaliseki ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhombisa ulaka noma isihe nomusa, inkambo yomuntu, ukuziphatha kanye nesimo sengqondo ngoNkulunkulu ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yakhe yikho okulawula lokho okuvezwayo ngokwembuleka kwesimo sikaNkulunkulu. Uma uNkulunkulu ebeka umuntu ngaphansi kolaka Lwakhe njalo, inhliziyo yalowo muntu akungabazeki, iphikisana noNkulunkulu. Ngoba akakaze aphenduke ngeqiniso, agobe ikhanda ngaphambi kukaNkulunkulu noma abe nokholo lwangempela kuNkulunkulu, akakaze athole isihe nokubekezelelwa uNkulunkulu. Uma umuntu evamise ukuthola ukunakekelwa nguNkulunkulu futhi evamise ukuthola isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu, kusho ukuthi lo muntu ngokungangabazeki unokukholwa okuyiqiniso kuNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi inhliziyo yakhe ayimelene noNkulunkulu. Uvama ukuphenduka ngeqiniso phambili kukaNkulunkulu; ngakho noma ngabe ukuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu kuvame ukwehlela kulo muntu, kodwa ulaka Lwakhe aluzi.
Le ndaba emfushane ivumela abantu ukuthi babone inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu, ukubona ukuba khona kwangempela kobukhona Bakhe, ukubona ukuthi intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu nokushintsha kwenhliziyo Yakhe akwenzeki ngaphandle kwesizathu. Naphezu komahluko omkhulu uNkulunkulu awukhombisa ngesikhathi ethukuthele nangesikhathi eshintsha inhliziyo Yakhe, okwenza abantu bakholwe ongathi kunesikhala esikhulu noma umahluko omkhulu phakathi kwalezi zingxenye ezimbili zengqikithi kaNkulunkulu—ulaka Lwakhe nokubekezelela Kwakhe—indlela yokucabanga kaNkulunkulu mayelana nokuphenduka kwabantu baseNineve, kuyaphinda futhi kuvumela abantu ukuthi babone lena enye ingxenye yesimo sikaNkulunkulu sangempela. Ukushintsha kwenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu ngempela kuvumela isintu ukuthi siphinde sibone iqiniso le sihe nomusa kaNkulunkulu kanye nokubona isambulo sangempela sobukhona bukaNkulunkulu. Isintu kufanele sivume nje ukuthi isihe nomusa kaNkulunkulu awuyona inganekwane noma amanga. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi umuzwa kaNkulunkulu wabe uyiqiniso ngaleso sikhathi; ukushintsha kwenhliziyo kukaNkulunkulu kwabe kuyiqiniso; uNkulunkulu impela waphinda futhi waletha isihe nokubekezelela Kwakhe esintwini.
Ukuphenduka Kweqiniso Ezinhliziyweni Zabantu BaseNineve Kubazuzela UmusaKaNkulunkulu Futhi Kushintsha Iziphetho Zabo
Ingabe kwakukhona ukuphikisana phakathi kokushintsha kwenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu kanye nentukuthelo Yakhe? Lutho neze!Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ukubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu kwabe kunesizathu ngaleso sikhathi. Ingabe kwakuyisiphi leso sizathu? Yileso esinikwe eBhayibhelini: “kuphenduke wonke umuntu endleleni yakhe embi” “nasebudloveni obusezandleni zabo.”
“Le ndlela embi” ayisho imisebenzi yezenzo ezimbi, kodwa umthombo omubi ongemuva kokuziphatha kwabantu. “Ukuphenduka endleleni yakhe embi” kuchaza ukuthi labo abathintekile ngeke baphinde bazenze lezi zinto futhi. Ngamanye amazwi, ngeke baphinde baziphathe ngale ndlela embi; indlela, umthombo, inhloso, okuqondiwe kanye nesimiso sezenzo zabo, kwabe konke kushintshile; ngeke baphinde basebenzise lezo zindlela nezimiso ukuletha injabulo nentokozo ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ukuthi “kubuyiswe ubudlova obusezandleni zakhe” kusho ukushiya noma ukulaxaza, ukuhlukanisa phakathi kwakho nesikhathi esidlule futhi ukungabuyeli emuva. Ngesikhathi abantu baseNineve beshiya ubudlova obusezandleni zabo, lokhu kwafakazela futhi kwamela ukuphenduka kwabo kweqiniso. UNkulunkulu uyabuka ingaphandle laba bantu kanye nezinhliziyo zabo. Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu ebona ukuphenduka kwangempela ezinhliziyweni zabantu baseNineve ngaphandle kombuzo futhi wabona ukuthi babezishiyile izindlela zabo ezimbi baphinde balahla phansi ubudlova ezandleni zabo, Washintsha inhliziyo Yakhe. Lokhu kungukuthi inkambo nokuziphatha kwalaba bantu nezindlela ezehlukehlukene zokwenza izinto, kanye nokuvuma nokuphenduka ngeqiniso, ezonweni ezinhliziyweni zabo, kwenza uNkulunkulu ukuba ashintshe inhliziyo Yakhe, ashintshe izinhloso Zakhe, ahoxise isinqumo Sakhe futhi angabajezisi noma ababhubhise. Ngakho, abantu baseNineve baphumelela ukuthola isiphetho esihlukile. Bahlenga izimpilo zabo futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo, banqoba isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu, okuyilapho futhi uNkulunkulu wahoxisa ulaka Lwakhe.
Isihe Nokubekezelela KukaNkulunkulu Akuyona Imvelakancane—Ukuphenduka Kweqiniso Komuntu Kuyimvelakancane
Akukhathaliseki ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubebathukuthelele kangakanani abantu baseNineve, kwathi bangamemezela ukuzila futhi bembatha indwangu yamasaka nomlotha, inhliziyo Yakhe yathamba kancane kancane, futhi waqala ukushintsha inhliziyo Yakhe. Ngesikhathi ememezela kubo ukuthi Wayezowubhubhisa umuzi wabo—umzuzwana ngaphambi kokuvuma nokuphenduka kwabo ezonweni zabo—uNkulunkulu wayesabathukuthelele. Kwathi sebedlule ochungechungeni lwezenzo zokuphenduka, intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu ngabantu baseNineve, yaguquka kancane kancane yaba isihe nokubabekezelela. Ayikho into ephikisanayo ngokuqondana kwalesi sambulo mayelana nalezi zingxenye ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu esehlweni esisodwa. Umuntu angakuqonda futhi akwazi kanjani lokungabikhona kokuphikisana? UNkulunkulu ngokulandelana waveza futhi wabonakalisa lo bukhona Bakhe obubili obuphikisana kakhulu, ngesikhathi abantu baseNineve bephenduka, wavumela abantu ukuthi babone ubuqobo nokunganengeki kobukhona bukaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wasebenzisa umbono Wakhe ukutshela abantu lokhu: Akukhona ukuthi uNkulunkulu akababekezeleli abantu, noma Akafuni ukubonisa isihe kubo; ukuthi abavamile ukuphenduka kweqiniso kuNkulunkulu, futhi kuyimvelakancane ukuthi abantu ngokweqiniso bashiye izindlela zabo ezimbi futhi balahle ubudlova obusezandleni zabo. Ngamanye amazwi, uma uNkulunkulu ethukuthelele umuntu, Uthemba ukuthi umuntu uzokwazi ukuphenduka ngokweqiniso, futhi Uthemba ukubona ukuphenduka kweqiniso komuntu, okulapho Uyobe eseqhubeka ukunikeza ngokuphana isihe nokubekezelela Kwakhe kumuntu. Lokhu kungukuthi inkambo embi yomuntu izehlisela ulaka lukaNkulunkulu, kanti isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu kunikezwa labo abalalela uNkulunkulu futhi baphenduke ngokweqiniso phambi kwakhe, nalabo abakwazi ukushiya izindlela zabo ezimbi futhi balahle ubudlova obusezandleni zabo. umbono kaNkulunkulu wabonakaliswa ngokusobala bha ngempatho Yakhe yabantu baseNineve: isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu akukho nzima neze ukukuthola; ufuna ukuphenduka kweqiniso komuntu. Inqobo nje uma abantu beshiya izindlela zabo ezimbi futhi balahle ubudlova ezandleni zabo, uNkulunkulu uzoshintsha inhliziyo Yakhe futhi ashintshe isimo sengqondo Yakhe ngabo.
Isimo Esilungile SoMdali Singokoqobo Futhi Sicacile
Ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu eshintsha inhliziyo Yakhe ngabantu baseNineve, ingabe isihe nokubekezelela Kwakhe kwabe kuyisithombe esinamanga? Lutho neze! Ngakho inguquko phakathi kwalezi zingxenye ezimbili zesimo sikaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi sodaba olulodwa ikusiza ukuthi uboneni? Isimo sikaNkulunkulu siyinto ephelele; asiqhekekanga neze. Akukhathaliseki ukuthi Uveza intukuthelo noma isihe nokubekezelela abantu, konke lokhu kungukuvezwa kwesimo Sakhe esilungile. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu singokoqobo futhi sicacile. Ushintsha imicabango nombono Wakhe ngendlela izinto eziqhubeka ngayo. Ukuguquka kombono Wakhe ngabantu baseNineve kutshela isintu ukuthi unemicabango nemibono Yakhe ngokwakhe; akayona into esebenzisa okomshini noma isithombe sobumba, kodwa unguNkulunkulu ophilayo Uqobo Lwakhe. Wayengabathukuthelela abantu baseNineve, njengoba wayengabaxolela izici zabo ezidlulile ngokuhambisana nezimo zengqondo zabo; wayenganquma ukuletha umehlo kubantu baseNineve, futhi wayengashintsha isinqumo Sakhe ngenxa yokuphenduka kwabo. Abantu baqoka ukusebenzisa imigomo njengomshini, futhi baqoka ukusebenzisa imigomo ukumisa nokuchaza uNkulunkulu, njengoba bethanda ukusebenzisa izindlela ezibekiwe zokwenza okuthile (amafomula) ukwazi isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke, ngangokucabanga kwesintu kukonke, uNkulunkulu akacabangi, futhi akanayo imibono enohlonze. Eqinisweni, imicabango kaNkulunkulu iyaguquguquka njalo ngangokushintsha kwezinto nesimo sezindawo; ngesikhathi le micabango iguquka, izingxenye ezihlukene zobukhona bukaNkulunkulu zizovela. Ngalesi sikhathi senguquko, ngomzuzu lapho uNkulunkulu eshintsha inhliziyo Yakhe, Uveza esintwini, iqiniso lokuba khona kwempilo Yakhe, futhi uveza ukuthi isimo Sakhe esilungile singokoqobo futhi sicacile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uNkulunkulu usebenzisa ezakhe izambulo eziyiqiniso ukufakazela esintwini iqiniso kokuba khona kolaka Lwakhe, isihe Sakhe, umusa Wakhe kanye nokubekezelela Kwakhe. Ingqikithi Yakhe izovezwa noma ingasiphi isikhathi noma kuyiphi indawo ngokuhambisana nokuqhubeka kwezinto. Unentukuthelo yebhubesi nesihe nokubekezelela kukamama. Isimo Sakhe esilungile akuvumelekile ukuba singabazwe, siphulwe, sishintshwe noma sihlanekezelwe noma imuphi umuntu. Phakathi kwazo zonke izindaba nezinto zonke, isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile, okungukuthi, intukuthelo kaNkulunkulu nesihe sikaNkulunkulu, singavezwa noma kunini noma kukuphi. Uveza ngokucacile lezi zingxenye kuzo zonke izindawo ongazicabanga emvelweni futhi uzenza ngokucacile ngazo zonke izikhathi. Isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile asikhawuliswa isikhathi noma indawo, noma, ngamanye amazwi, isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile asivezwa noma asibonakaliswe njengomshini ngokuphoqwa imingcele yesikhathi noma indawo. Kunalokho, isimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile sibonakaliswa siphinde sivezwe ngokukhululeka noma ingasiphi isikhathi noma ikuyiphi indawo. Uma ubona uNkulunkulu eshintsha inhliziyo Yakhe futhi eyeka ukubonakalisa ulaka Lwakhe futhi egwema ukubhubhisa umuzi waseNineve, ungathi uNkulunkulu unesihe nothando kuphela? Ungasho ukuthi ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luqukethe amazwi ayize? Lapho uNkulunkulu ebonakalisa ulaka olwesabekayo futhi ehoxisa isihe Sakhe, ungathi akezwa uthando lweqiniso ngesintu? UNkulunkulu ubonakalisa ulaka olwesabekayo ngenxa yezenzo ezimbi zabantu; ulaka Lwakhe alunasici. Inhliziyo kaNkulunkulu ithintwa ukuphenduka kwabantu, futhi ilokuphenduka okushintsha inhliziyo Yakhe kanjalo. Ukuthinteka Kwakhe, ukushintsha kwenhliziyo Yakhe kanye nesihe nokubekezelela Kwakhe maqondana nomuntu akunasici nhlobo; kuhlanzekile, kumsulwa, akunasici futhi akungcolisiwe. Ukubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu ukubekezelela okumsulwa; isihe Sakhe isihe esimsulwa. Isimo Sakhe sizoveza ulaka kanye nesihe nokubekezelela, ngokuhambisana nokuphenduka komuntu kanye nenkambo yakhe ehlukile. Akunandaba ukuthi uvezani noma ubonakalisani, kumsulwa; kuqondile; ingqikithi yakho ihluke kakhulu kunanoma yini endalweni. Imiyalo zezenzo uNkulunkulu azibonakalisayo, imicabango nemibono Yakhe noma isiphi isinqumo esithile, kanye nanoma isiphi isinqumo esisodwa, akunazo nanoma iziphi izici noma amabala. Njengoba uNkulunkulu enqumile, uthatha isinyathelo ngokunjalo futhi ngale ndlela ufeza konke akwenzayo. Lezi zinhlobo zemiphumela ziqondile ngqo futhi azinaphutha ngoba umthombo wazo awunasici futhi awunabala. Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu alunasici. Ngokunjalo, isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu, okungatholakali kunanoma isiphi isidalwa, kungcwele futhi akunasici, futhi kungama lapho kuzindlwa futhi kudingidwa odlule kukho.
Emuva kokuqonda indaba yeNineve, niyayibona lena enye ingxenye yengqikithi yesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu? Ingabe ulubonile olunye uhlangothi lwesimo sikaNkulunkulu sokulunga esiyingqayizivele? Kukhona phakathi kwesintu onalolu hlobo lwesimo na? Ukhona onalolu hlobo lolaka njengolukaNkulunkulu? Ukhona onesihe nokubekezelela njengoNkulunkulu? Ubani phakathi kwendalo ongavusa ulaka olukhulu futhi anqume ukubhubhisa noma ukuletha isigemegeme esintwini? Futhi ngubani ofanelekile ukunika isihe, ukubekezelela futhi axolele umuntu, ngalokho kwenza ashintshe isinqumo sakhe sokubhubhisa umuntu? UMdali ubonakalisa isimo Sakhe esilungile ngezindlela nezimiso zakhe eziyingqayizivele; akekho ngaphansi kokulawulwa noma ukuvinjelwa inoma abaphi abantu, izigameko noma izinto. Ngenxa yesimo Sakhe esiyingqayizivele, akekho okwazi ukuguqula imicabango nemibono Yakhe, futhi akekho ongambonisa futhi aguqule noma isiphi isinqumo Sakhe. Ukuziphatha nemicabango yendalo isiyonke, ikhona ngaphansi kokwahlulela kwesimo Sakhe esilungile. Akekho ongalawula noma uveza ulaka noma isihe; ingqikithi yoMdali kuphela—noma ngamanye amazwi, isimo esilungile soMdali—esinganquma lokhu. Lena imvelo eyingqayizivele yesimo esilungile soMdali!
Uma sesihlaziyile futhi saqonda inguquko yombono kaNkulunkulu kubantu baseNineve, niyakwazi ukusebenzisa igama “ingqayizivele” ukuchaza isihe esitholakala esimweni esilungile sikaNkulunkulu? Besithe phambilini ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyi ngxenye eyodwa yengqikithi yesimo Sakhe esilungile futhi esiyingqayizivele. Manje, sengizochaza izingxenye ezimbili, ulaka lukaNkulunkulu nesihe sikaNkulunkulu, njengesimo Sakhe esilungile. Isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu singcwele; asinakunengwa futhi asinakubuzwa; kuyinto engekho kunoma yisiphi isidalwa esidaliwe noma esingadalwanga. Kuyingqayizivele futhi kukhethekile kuNkulunkulu. Lokhu ngukuthi ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lungcwele futhi alunakho ukunengeka; ngesikhathi esifanayo, enye ingxenye yesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu—isihe sikaNkulunkulu—singcwele futhi asinakucasulwa. Asikho nesisodwa isidalwa esidaliwe noma esingadalwanga esingathatha indawo noma simele uNkulunkulu ezenzweni Zakhe, futhi akekho ongathatha indawo noma amele Yena ekubhujisweni kweSodoma noma ukusindiswa kweNineve. Lokhu ukubonakaliswa kweqiniso kwesimo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile futhi esiyingqayizivele.
Imizwa YoMdali Eqotho Ngesintu
Abantu bavame ukuthi akuyona into elula ukwazi uNkulunkulu. Kepha, ngithi ukwazi uNkulunkulu akuyona into enzima neze, ngoba uNkulunkulu, njalo uyavumela umuntu ukuthi azibone izenzo Zakhe. UNkulunkulu akakaze ayeke ingxoxo Yakhe nesintu; akakaze azifihle kumuntu, futhi akakaze acashe. Imicabango Yakhe, imibono Yakhe, amazwi Akhe kanye nezenzo Zakhe ziveziwe zonke esintwini. Ngakho, inqobo nje uma umuntu efisa ukwazi uNkulunkulu, angakwazi ukumqonda nokumazi ngezindlela eziningi futhi ezinhlobonhlobo. Isizathu esibanga umuntu ngokungaqondi, acabange ukuthi uNkulunkulu umxwaya ngamabomu, nokuthi uNkulunkulu usicashele ngamabomu isintu, ukuthi uNkulunkulu akananhloso yokuvumela umuntu ukuthi amqonde futhi amazi, ukuthi akazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungubani, futhi akafisi ukuqonda uNkulunkulu; nangaphezu kwalokho, akazihluphi ngemicabango, amazwi noma izenzo zoMdali…. Uma sikhuluma iqiniso, uma umuntu esebenzisa isikhathi esingatheni, ukubhekisisa futhi aqonde amazwi noma izenzo zoMdali futhi athi ukulalela imicabango nephimbo le nhliziyo yoMdali, ngeke kube nzima ukubona ukuthi imicabango, amazwi kanye nezenzo zoMdali ziyabonakala futhi zisobala. Ngokunjalo, kuzothatha ukuzikhandla okuncane ukubona ukuthi uMdali uphakathi kwabantu ngaso sonke isikhathi, nokuthi uhlala exoxisana nomuntu kanye nendalo iyonkana, nokuthi wenza izenzo ezintsha zonke izinsuku. Ingqikithi nesimo Sakhe kubonakaliswa engxoxweni Yakhe nomuntu; imicabango nemibono Yakhe iyavezwa ngokuphelele ezenzweni Zakhe; uyaphelekezela futhi abuke isintu ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ukhuluma buthule nesintu nayo yonke indalo ngamazwi Akhe athulile: Ngisemazulwini, ngiphakathi kwendalo Yami. Ngigadile; ngilindile; ngisohlangothini lwakho…. Izandla Zakhe zifudumele futhi zinamandla; izinyathelo Zakhe zilula; iphimbo Lakhe liphansi futhi lihle; isiqu Sakhe siyadlula futhi sijike, samukela sonke isintu; ubuso Bakhe buhle futhi bumnene. Akakaze ahambe, futhi akakaze anyamalale. Kusukela entathakusa kuze kuyohwalla, ungumngane wesintu oselokhu ekhona njalo. Ukunakekela ngokuzinikela Kwakhe nothando olukhethekile analo ngesintu, kanye nokunaka nothando lweqiniso analo ngomuntu, kwabonakala kancane kancane lapho esindisa umuzi waseNineve. Ikakhulu, ingxoxo phakathi kwaNkulunkulu uJehova noJona yadalula kakhulu uzwelo loMdali ngesintu ayesidalile Yena Uqobo. Ngala mazwi ungathola ukuqonda ukujulile lwemizwa eqotho esuka enhliziyweni ngesintu…
Okulandelayo kubhalwe eNcwadini kaJona 4:10-11: “Yayisithi iNKOSI, wena uhawukela umhlakuva, ongawusebenzelanga, futhi wawukhulisa; omile nje ngobusuku bunye, futhi ubhubhe ebusuku: Mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela yini iNinive, idolobha elikhulu, lapho kukhona kulo abantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sokunene nesandla sokunxele; kanye nezinkomo eziningi na?” Lawa ngamazwi angoqobo kaNkulunkulu uJehova, ingxoxo phakathi Kwakhe noJona. Noma le ngxoxo imfushane, igcwele iyachichima ngokunakekela koMdali ekhathalele isintu kanye nokuba madolonzima Kwakhe ukusiyekelela. La mazwi abonakalisa umbono nemizwa yeqiniso uNkulunkulu ayigcina enhliziyweni Yakhe ngendalo Yakhe, futhi ngala mazwi acacile, amazwi angavamile neze ukuzwiwa umuntu, uNkulunkulu ubeka obala izinhloso Zakhe zeqiniso ngesintu. Le ngxoxo ikhombisa umbono uNkulunkulu abenawo ngabantu baseNineve-kodwa umbono onjani lona? Kwakuwumbono ayenawo ngabantu baseNineve ngaphambili nangemuva kokuphenduka kwabo. UNkulunkulu uphatha isintu ngendlela efanayo. Kula mazwi umuntu angayithola imicabango Yakhe, kanye nesimo Sakhe.
Imiphi imicabango kaNkulunkulu evezwa kula mazwi? Ukufunda ngokucophelela kuveza ngokushesha ukuthi usebenzisa igama “isihawu”; ukusebenzisa leli gama kukhombisa umbono weqiniso kaNkulunkulu ngomuntu.
Uma sibuka ngokwesayensi, umuntu angalichaza igama “isihawu” ngezindlela ezihlukene: okokuqala, ukuthanda nokuvikela, ukuba nozwelo ngento ethile; okwesibili, ukuthanda kakhulu; okukugcina, ukungafuni ukulimaza leyonto futhi ukungakwazi ukumela ukukwenza lokho. Ngamafuphi, lichaza uthando olunobubele, nolungafuni ukuyeka umuntu noma into; lichaza isihe nokubekezelela kukaNkulunkulu kumuntu. Nakuba uNkulunkulu asebenzisa igama elivamile ukushiwo phakathi kwabantu, ukusebenzisa leli gama kweneka iphimbo lenhliziyo kaNkulunkulu kanye nesimo sengqondo Yakhe ngomuntu.
Nakuba umuzi waseNineve wawugcwele abantu ababekhohlakele, bebabi futhi benodlame njengabaseSodoma, ukuphenduka kwabo kwadala ukuthi uNkulunkulu ashintshe inhliziyo Yakhe futhi anqume ukungababhubhisi. Ngoba ukuphendula kwabo emazwini nemiyalo kaNkulunkulu kwakhombisa isimo sengqondo esihluke kude le kuleso sezakhamizi zaseSodoma, futhi ngenxa yokuzithobela kwabo kweqiniso uNkulunkulu nokuphenduka kwabo kweqiniso ezonweni zabo, kanye nokuziphatha okusuka enhliziyweni nokungeqiniso ngazo zonke izindlela, uNkulunkulu waphinda wakhombisa isihawu esisuka enhliziyweni Yakhe futhi wabanika sona. Umvuzo kaNkulunkulu kanye nesihawu Sakhe ngesintu, akekho angakwazi ukukulingisa; akekho umuntu ongaba nesihe nokubelezelela kukaNkulunkulu noma imizwa Yakhe eqotho ngesintu. Ukhona umuntu ombona njengendoda noma owesifazane omkhulu, noma indoda enamandla amakhulu, ongakhulumela endaweni ephakeme kakhulu, ekhuluma njengendoda noma owesifazane omkhulu, noma esicongweni, ongasho la mazwi esintwini noma endalweni? Ubani phakathi kwesintu ongazi isimo sokuphila sesintu njengentende yesandla sakhe? Ubani ongathwala inkathazo nomthwalo wokubhekela ukuba khona kwesintu? Ubani ongamemezela ukubhujiswa komuzi? Futhi ubani angakwazi ukuxolela umuzi? Ubani ongathi uyayazisa kakhulu indalo yakhe? UMdali kuphela! UMdali kuphela onesihawu ngesintu. UMdali kuphela okhombisa isintu ububele nothando. UMdali kuphela onothando lweqiniso olungenakuphela ngalesi sintu. Ngokunjalo, uMdali kuphela onganika isintu isihe futhi azise indalo Yakhe. Inhliziyo Yakhe iyagxuma futhi iqaqambe ngazo zonke izenzo zomuntu: Uyathukuthela, ahlupheke futhi adabuke ngenxa yobubi bomuntu nenkohlakalo; uyajabula, aname, athethelele futhi asase ngenxa yokuphenduka nokukholwa komuntu; yonke imicabango nemibono Yakheiphathelene nesintu; lokho Ayikho nalokho anakho kubonakaliselwa isintu seku konke; imizwelo Yakhe isiyonke ithandelene nokuba khona kwesintu. Ngenxa yesintu, uyahamba, abe phansi phezulu; unikela konke ukuphila Kwakhe buthule; unikela yonke imizuzu nemizuzwana yempilo Yakhe…. Akakaze akwazi ukuba nesihawu ngempilo Yakhe Uqobo, kepha kade ayenesihawu futhi azisa isintu asidala Yena Uqobo Lwakhe…. Unika konke anakho kulesi sintu…. Unika isihe nokubekezelela okungenamigomo futhi ngaphandle kokulindela ukukhokhelwa. Ukwenza lokhu kuphela ukuze isintu siqhubeke siphile phambi kwamehlo Akhe, samukela ukuhlinzeka Kwakhe; ukwenza lokhu kuphela ukuze isintu ngelinye ilanga sizithobe phambi Kwakhe futhi sibone ukuthi Nguye owondla ukubukhona komuntu futhi anike impilo yoyo yonke indalo.
UMdali Uveza Imizwa Yakhe Yeqiniso Ngesintu
Le ngxoxo phakathi kukaNkulunkulu uJehova noJona ngaphandle kokungabaza, ingukubonakaliswa kwemizwa yeqiniso yoMdali ngesintu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, yazisa abantu ngokuqonda koMdali kwayo yonke indalo engaphansi komyalo Wakhe; njengoba uNkulunkulu uJehova wathi, “Mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela yini iNinive, idolobha elikhulu, lapho kukhona kulo abantu abangaphezu kwezinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sokunene nesandla sokunxele; kanye nezinkomo eziningi na??” Ngamanye amazwi, ukuqonda kwaNkulunkulu ngeNineve kwakungakhi phezulu. Wabe azi isibalo sezidalwa eziphilayo kulo muzi (kuhlanganise abantu nemfuyo), Wabe azi futhi ukuthi bangaki abangakwazi ukwahlukanisa isandla sabo sokunene nesokhohlo—okungukuthi, zabe zingaki izingane nentsha eyabe ikhona. Lokhu ubufakazi obuqanda ikhanda ngokuqonda isintu kukaNkulunkulu okuhlaba umxhwele. Ngakolunye uhlangothi le ngxoxo yazisa abantu ngesimo sengqondo soMdali ngesintu, okungukuthi isisindo sesintu enhliziyweni yoMdali. Kunjengoba uNkulunkulu uJehova eshilo: “wena uhawukela umhlakuva, ongawusebenzelanga, futhi wawukhulisa; omile nje ngobusuku bunye, futhi ubhubhe ebusuku: Mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela yini iNinive, idolobha elikhulu …?” Lawa ngamazwi kaNkulunkulu uJehova okusola uJona, kodwa wonke aliqiniso.
Nakuba uJona wayephathisiwe umsebenzi wokumemezela amazwi kaNkulunkulu uJehova kubantu baseNineve, akazange aziqonde izinhloso zikaNkulunkulu uJehova, futhi akazange aqonde ukukhathazeka nalokho ayekulindele ngabantu bomuzi. Ngalesi sixwayiso uNkulunkulu wayeqonde ukumtshela ukuthi isintu sabe siyisidalwa sezandla Zakhe, futhi uNkulunkulu wayezikhandlile kanzima ngomuntu ngamunye; umuntu ngamunye wayethwele amathemba kaNkulunkulu kuye; wonke umuntu wabe ejabulela ukupha kwaNkulunkulu ngempilo; ngamuntu ngamunye uNkulunkulu wayekhokhe inani elinzima. Lesi sixwayiso satshela uJona ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesazisa isintu, umsebenzi wezandla Zakhe, njengoba uJobe wayewazisa umhlakuva. UNkulunkulu wayengeke abalahle kalula ngaphambi komzuzu wokugcina ngci; Ngaphezu kwalokho, zabe ziziningi izingane nemfuyo engenacala phakathi komuzi. Lapho ebhekene nalaba abancane nabangenalwazi bendalo kaNkulunkulu, ababengakwazi ngisho ukuhlukanisa phakathi kwezandla zabo zakwesokudla nesokunxele, uNkulunkulu wahluleka kakhulu ukuqeda ukuphila kwabo futhi anqume ngeziphetho zabo ngendlela enokujaha. UNkulunkulu wayefisa ukubabona bekhula; Wayethemba ukuthi ngeke bahambe ezindleleni ezifanayo njengalabo abadala, ukuthi babengeke badinge ukuphinda bezwe isexwayiso sikaNkulunkulu uJehova futhi, nokuthi babezoba ngofakazi ngomlando weNineve. Nangaphezu kwalokho, uNkulunkulu wayenethemba lokubona iNineve emuva kokuthi seyiphendukile, futhi esikakhulu, ukubona uNineve iphinda iphila ngaphansi kwesihe sikaNkulunkulu futhi. Ngakho, emehlweni kaNkulunkulu, lezo zinto ezidaliwe ezazingakwazi ukuhlukanisa phakathi kwesandla sokudla nesinxele kwabe kuyikusasa le Nineve. Babezothwala izici ezinyanyeka zeNineve ezedlule, njengoba babezothwala umsebenzi omkhulu wokufakazela umlando nekusasa le Nineve ngaphansi kokuqondiwa nguNkulunkulu uJehova. Kulesi simemezelo semizwa Yakhe yeqiniso, uNkulunkulu uJehova wethula isihe soMdali ngesintu sisonkana. Siyakhombisa ukuthi “isihe soMdali” akuyona inkulumo eyize nje noma isithembiso esiyize; sinezimiyalo eqotho nezindlela nezinjongo. Uliqiniso futhi ukhona ngempela, futhi akasebenzisi amanga noma izinto zokusitheza, futhi ngendlela efanayo isihe Sakhe siyabonakaliswa phezu kwesintu ngaso sonke isikhathi nenkathi. Kepha, kuze kube namhlanje, ingxoxo yoMdali noJona iyona kuphela inkulumo ekhethekile yoMdali esho isizathu esenza akhombise isihe esintwini, ukuthi usikhombisa kanjani isihe esintwini, ukuthi usibekezelela kangakanani isintu kanye nemizwa Yakhe yangempela ngesintu. Ingxoxo kaNkulunkulu uJehova emfushane kodwa enohlonze ikhombisa imicabango Yakhe ephelele ngesintu, kuwubufakazi obuqinile bokunika Kwakhe isihe esichichimayo esintwini. Isihe Sakhe asinikwa izizukulwane ezindala zesintu; siphinda sinikwe kanye namalunga asemancane esintu, njengoba kuhlale kwenzeka, kusukela esizukulwaneni esinye kuya kwesinye. Nakuba ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luvame ukwehlela emagumbini athile nasezikhathini ezithile zesintu, isihe sikaNkulunkulu asikaze siphele. Ngesihe Sakhe, uyaqondisa futhi ahole isizukulwane esisodwa sendalo Yakhe emuva kwesinye, upha futhi ondle isizukulwane esisodwa sendalo emuva kwesinye, ngoba imizwa yakhe yeqiniso ngesintu ayisoze yashintsha. Njengoba uNkulunkulu uJehova eshilo: “Mina-ke bengingayikulihawukela yini iNinive …?” Uhlale eyazisa indalo Yakhe Uqobo. Lokhu isihe sesimo esilungile soMdali, futhi singubungqayizivele obumsulwa boMdali!
(III) Izinhlobo Zabantu Abahlanu
Okwamanje, ngizoyishiya ingxoxo yethu mayelana nesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu iphelele khona lapho. Okulandelayo, ngizohlela abalandeli bakaNkulunkulu ezigabeni eziningi, ngokuhambisana nokuqonda kwabo uNkulunkulu kanye nokuqonda kwabo kanye nabadlule kukhona kwesimo esilungile Sakhe, khona nizokwazi isigaba okusona njengamanje kanye nesiqu senu samanje. Mayelana nolwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu kanye nokuqonda kwabo ngesimo Sakhe esilungile, izigaba ezihlukene kanye neziqu abantu abakuzo zingahlukaniswa ngokujwayelekile kube izinhlobo ezinhlanu. Lesi sihloko sidingidwa ngesisekelo sokwazi uNkulunkulu oyingqayizivele kanye nesimo Sakhe esilungile; ngakho, uma nifunda lokhu okuqukethwe lapha okulandelayo,kufanele nizame ngokucophelela ukubona ukuthi empeleni ninokuqonda nolwazi olungakanani mayelana nobungqayizivele bukaNkulunkulu kanye nesimo Sakhe esilungile, bese nisebenzisa lokhu ukulinganisa ukuthi isiphi isigaba enikusona ngempela, nokuthiningabantu abanjani ngempela.
Uhlobo lokuqala lwaziwa ngokuthi isigaba “umntwana embesiwe.”
Yini umntwana ombesiwe? Umntwana ombesiwe umntwana osanda kuzalwa, usane. Yilapho abantu bebancane khona kakhulu futhi bengavuthiwe.
Abantu abakulesi sigaba esikakhulu abanako ukuqonda noma ukuqaphela ngezindaba zokukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Badidekile futhi abanalwazi ngayo yonke into. Laba bantu kungenzeka ukuthi sebekholwe kuNkulunkulu isikhathi eside noma hhayi isikhathi eside neze, kodwa isimo sabo esididekile nesingenalwazi kanye nesiqu sabo sangempela sibabeka esigabeni sokuba umntwana ombesiwe. Incazelo eqondile yezimo zokuba umntwana ecashile imi kanje: akukhathaleki ukuthi sekuyisikhathi eside kangakanani lo muntu ekholelwa kuNkulunkulu, uyohlala ephithiza, edidekile futhi enjengengane; akazi kungani ekholelwa kuNkulunkulu, futhi akazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngubani. Nakuba elandela uNkulunkulu ayikho incazelo eqondile ngoNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yakhe, futhi akakwazi ukunquma noma lo amlandelayo nguNkulunkulu, kungasaphathwa ukuthi kufanele yini akholelwe kuNkulunkulu okwempela futhi amlandele. Lezi izimo zangempela aphila kuzona lolu hlobo lo muntu. Imicabango yalaba bantu ayicacile, isibekelwe amafu, makubekwa kalula, ukukholwa kwabo ngokokudideka. Bahlala besesimweni sokudideka nokungazi lutho; bayaphithizela, badidekile futhi banjengezingane uma sifinyezwa isimo sabo. Abakaze babone noma bezwe ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu, ngakho ukukhuluma nabo mayelana nokwazi uNkulunkulu, kusiza njengokuthi uthi mabafunde incwadi ebhalwe ngezimpawu zaseGibhithe; ngeke bayiqonde noma bayenamele. Kubona ukwazi uNkulunkulu kufana nokulalela indaba eyinganekwane. Nakuba imicabango yabo inenkungu, bakholelwa ukuthi ukwazi uNkulunkulu kuwukuchitha isikhathi nokuzikhandla. Lokhu uhlobo lomuntu wokuqala: umntwana ombesiwe.
Uhlobo lwesibili isigaba “somntwana oncelayo”
Uma uqhathanisa nomntwana ombesiwe, lolu hlobo lomuntu selibenayo intuthuko. Ngeshwa abakabi nokuqonda nokuqondisisa ngoNkulunkulu, futhi akukabacaceli ukuthi kungani kufanele bakholwe kuNkulunkulu, kodwa ezinhliziyweni zabo banenhloso yabo nemibono ecacile. Abazihluphi ngokuthi kulungile yini ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Injongo nenhloso bayifunayo ngokukholwa kuNkulunkulu ukujabulela umusa Wakhe, ukuba nontokozo nokuthula, ukuphila izimpilo ezinethezekile, ukuba nokunakekelwa nokuvikelwa kukaNkulunkulu nokuphila ngaphansi kwezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu. Abanandaba nezinga abamazi ngalo uNkulunkulu; abanawo umdlandla wokufuna ukuqonda uNkulunkulu, futhi abanandaba nokuthi wenzani uNkulunkulu noma ufisa ukwenzani. Ngaphandle kokuqonda, bafuna nje ukujabulela umusa Wakhe futhi bathole ezinye zezibusiso Zakhe; bafisa ukuthi bathole ikhulu ngesikhathi samanje, nokuphila okuphakade enkathini ezayo. Imicabango, ukusebenzisa imali nokuzinikela kwabo, kanye nokuhlupheka kwabo, konke kunenjongo efanayo: ukuthola umusa nezibusiso zikaNkulunkulu. Abanandaba nokunye. Lolu hlobo lomuntu lunesiqiniseko sokuthi uNkulunkulu angabagcina bephephile futhi athele umusa Wakhe phezu kwabo kuphela. Umuntu angathi abanandaba futhi akucacile kubo ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu efisa ukusindisa umuntu noma umphumela uNkulunkulu afisa ukuwuthola ngamazwi nomsebenzi Wakhe. Abakaze benze umzamo wokwazi ingqikithi nesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu, futhi abakwazi ukuqunga amandla okwenze njalo. Abafisi ukunaka lezi zinto futhi abafisi ukuzazi. Abafisi ukubuza ngomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, izimfanelo uNkulunkulu azidingayo kumuntu, intando kaNkulunkulu noma yini ephathelene noNkulunkulu; futhi abazihluphi ngokubuza ngalezi zinto. Yingoba bakholelwa ukuthi lezi zindaba azihlanganise lutho nokujabulela kwabo umusa kaNkulunkulu; banendaba kuphela noNkulunkulu ongathela umusa futhi ophathelene nezindaba zabo. Abanandaba nhlobo kunoma yini enye, ngakho ngeke bangene ebukhoneni beqiniso, akukhathaleki ukuthi mingaki iminyaka bekholwa kuNkulunkulu. Uma bengenaye umuntu ozobondla futhi abaphe amanzi njalo, kunzima kubo ukuqhubeka endleleni yokukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Uma bengajabuleli leya njabulo yabo yasekuqaleni noma bajabulele umusa kaNkulunkulu, kungenzeka bahlehlele emuva. Uhlobo lwesibili lomuntu lolu: umuntu ophila esigabeni lokuba umntwana oncelayo.
Uhlobo lwesithathu isigaba somntwana olunyulwayo—isigaba sengane esencane.
Leli qembu labantu banokuqapha okuthile futhi okucacile. Laba bantu bayazi ukuthi ukujabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu akusho ukuthi bona qobo lwabo banakho ukuzizwela kweqiniso; bayazi ukuthi uma bengakhathali ukufuna injabulo nokuthula, ukufuna umusa, noma uma bangafakaza ngokuxoxa ngalokhu abadlule kukhona bejabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu noma bebonga izibusiso uNkulunkulu abanike zona, lezi zinto azisho ukuthi banempilo, futhi azisho ukuthi banobukhona beqiniso. Kuqala ekuqondeni kwabo, bayayeka ukucabanga ukuthi bazophelekezelwa umusa kaNkulunkulu kuphela; kodwa, njengoba bejabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu, ngaleso sikhathi bafisa ukwenzela uNkulunkulu okuthile; bazimisele ukwenza umsebenzi wabo, ukumela ubunzima nokukhathala okuncane, ukuba nokubambisana okuthile noNkulunkulu. Kepha, ngenxa yokuthi ukulandela kwabo ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu kungcolisiwe, ngoba izinhloso nezifiso abanazo njengabantu, zinamandla kakhulu, ngoba isimo sabo siqhosha ngobudlova obukhulu. Kunzima kubo ukwenelisa isifiso sikaNkulunkulu noma ukuthembeka Kuye; ngakho, bavamile ukuba bangazifezi izifiso zabo qobo noma bangazifezi izithembiso zabo kuNkulunkulu. Bajwayele ukuzithola besezimweni eziphambanayo: bayafisa kakhulu ukwenelisa uNkulunkulu kuze kufike ezingeni eliphakeme kakhulu, kepha basebenzisa wonke amandla abo ukumelana noNkulunkulu; bavame ukwenza ezethembiso kuNkulunkulu kodwa basheshe ukudembesela izifungo zabo. Nangaphezu kwalokhu bavamile ukuzithola besezimweni eziphambene: bayakholelwa kuNkulunkulu ngokuzimisela kodwa bayamphika uNkulunkulu nakho konke okuvela Kuye; banethemba elikhulu lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzobakhanyisela, abahole, abanike abakudingayo futhi abasize, kepha basafuna indlela yabo yokuphuma. Bafisa ukumqonda nokumazi uNkulunkulu, kodwa abazimisele ukusondela Kuye. Kunalokho, bahlale bemgwema uNkulunkulu; izinhliziyo zabo zivalekile Kuye. Noma benokuqonda okukha phezulu kanye nalokho abadlule kukho, ngezincazelo zamazwikaNkulunkulu neqiniso, uma ulandela wona nje amagama, nokuqonda okukha phezulu ngoNkulunkulu nangeqiniso, emoyeni wabo abakaqiniseki noma baqonde ukuthi uNkulunkulu uliqiniso; abakwazi ukuthola isiqiniseko sokuthi uNkulunkulu ulungile ngokweqiniso; futhi abakwazi ukuthola ubuqobo besimo nengqikithi kaNkulunkulu, kungasaphathwa ukubakhona Kwakhe ngempela. Ukholo lwabo kuNkulunkulu luhlale lunokungabaza nokungezwani, futhi kunokucabanga ngamehlo engqondo nemibono. Lapho bejabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu, ngokuzindela, bayazizwela noma benze lokho abathi amaqiniso angenzeka, ukuze bakhulise ukholo lwabo, ukwandisa lokho abadlule kukho ekukholweni nguNkulunkulu, ukuzoqinisekisa ngokuqonda kwabo ngokukholwa kuNkulunkulu, ukwenelisa isifiso-ze sabo sokuhamba endleleni yempilo abazimisele bona yona nokufeza umgomo olungile wesintu. Ngaleso sikhathi, bayazenza lezi zinto ukuze banelise isifiso sabo sokuthola izibusiso, ukuze babheje ikhona bezothola izibusiso ezinkulu esintwini, ukuze bafeze isifiso abazimisele ngaso nesifiso ekade benaso impilo yonke, sokungaphumuli baze bamthole uNkulunkulu. Laba bantu abavamile ukuthola ukukhanyiseleka kukaNkulunkulu, ngoba isifiso sabo nenhloso yabo ukuthola izibusiso kubaluleke kakhulu kubo. Abanasifiso sokuyeka futhi ngeke bakwazi ukukuyeka lokhu. Besaba ukuthi ngaphandle kwesifiso sokuthola izibusiso, ngaphandle kwalesifiso seminyaka sokungaphumuli baze bazuze uNkulunkulu, bazolahlekelwa umdlandla wokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho abafisi ukubhekana nesimo soqobo. Abafisi ukubhekana namazwi kaNkulunkulu nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Abafisi ukubhekana nesimo sikaNkulunkulu noma ingqikithi Yakhe, kungasaphathwa ukuthi kukhulunywe ngesihloko sokwazi uNkulunkulu. Isizathu salokhu ingoba uma uNkulunkulu, ingqikithi Yakhe kanye nesimo Sakhe esilungilekuthatha indawo yemicabango yamehlo abo engqondo, amaphupho abo ayonyamalala; ukukholwa kwabo okumsulwa mbumbulu “namaphuzu” abawaqokelele eminyakeni eminingi yokusebenza ngokucophelela, konke kuyonyamalala kuphenduke ize; “indawo” yabo abayinqobe ngokuzikhandla iminyaka eminingi, izobe isengcupheni yokudilika. Lokhu kuyosho ukuthi iminyaka yabo eminingi yokusebenza nokuzikhandla bekuyize futhi kufanele baqale futhi bengenalutho. Lokhu ubuhlungu obunzima kakhulu ukuthi babuthwale ezinhliziyweni zabo, futhi umphumela abangafuni ukuwubona ngempela; ngakho bahlale ngezithola kulesi simo sokungahlulani, benqaba ukubuyela emuva. Lona uhlobo lwesithathu lo muntu: umuntu otholakala esigabeni somntwana olunyulwayo.
Izinhlobo ezintathu zabantu abachazwe ngaphezulu—ngamanye amazwi, abantu abakhona kulezi zigaba ezintathu—abanakho ukukholwa kweqiniso ngobunjalo nesikhundla sikaNkulunkulu noma isimo Sakhe esilungile, futhi abanakho ukuzibona nokuqiniseka ngalezi zinto. Ngakho, kunzima kakhulu kulezi zinhlobo ezintathu zabantu, ukungena ekubeni ngokoqobo kweqiniso, futhi kunzima kubo ukwemukela isihe sikaNkulunkulu, ukukhanyiselwa noma ukukhanya ngoba indlela abakholwa ngayo kuNkulunkulu kanye nesimo sengqondo esiyiphutha abanaso ngoNkulunkulu yenza kubenzima kakhulu kuNkulunkulu ukuthi enze umsebenzi ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ukungabaza, ukungaqondi kahle nokubuka ngamehlo engqondo mayelana noNkulunkulu, sekudlule ukholo nolwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu. Lezi izinhlobo eziyingozi kakhulu zabantu futhi izigaba eziyingozi kakhulu. Uma umuntu egcina umbono wokumngabaza uNkulunkulu, ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu, ubunjalo bukaNkulunkulu, nodaba lokuthi uNkulunkulu Ingabe uliqiniso kanye nobuqobo bokubakhona Kwakhe futhi angabi nesiqiniseko ngalezi zinto, angayemukela kanjani yonke into evela kuNkulunkulu? Umuntu angalemukela kanjani iqiniso lokuthi uNkulunkulu uliqiniso, indlela nokuphila? Umuntu angakwemukela kanjani ukujeziswa nokwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu? Umuntu angayemukela kanjani insindiso? Umuntu onje angemukela kanjani ukuqondisa kweqiniso nokuphana kukaNkulunkulu? Labo abalapha kulezi zigaba ezintathu bangaphikisana noNkulunkulu, bamhlulele uNkulunkulu, bamhlambalaze uNkulunkulu noma bamkhaphele uNkulunkulu noma kunini. Bangalahla indlela yeqiniso bashiye uNkulunkulu noma kunini. Umuntu angathi abantu abakulezi zigaba ezintathu basesikhathini esibucayi, ngoba abakangeni emgudwini olungile wokukholwa kuNkulunkulu.
Uhlobo lwesine isigaba sengane esikhula: isikhathi sobungane.
Umuntu uma eselunyuliwe—okungukuthi, emuva kokuba esekade ejabulela isikhathi esanele somusa, umuntu uyaqala ahlole ukuthi kuchaza ukuthini ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu, ukufisa ukuqonda imibuzo ehlukene, njengokuthi kungani umuntu ephila, kufanele umuntu aphile kanjani nokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu enza umsebenzi Wakhe kumuntu. Uma le micabango engacacile nemiqondo edidekile ivuka kubona futhi iba khona kubo, bathola ukuchelwa njalo futhi bakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wabo. Ngalesi sikhathi, abasenakho ukungabaza ngeqiniso lokuba khona kukaNkulunkulu, futhi banokuqonda okuyikho ngokuthi kusho ukuthini ukukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Phezu kwale sisekelo baba nolwazi ngoNkulunkulu kancane kancane, futhi kancane kancane, bathola izimpendulo ngemicabango engacacile nokuqonda okudidekile kwabo ngesimo nengqikithi kaNkulunkulu. Mayelana nokushintsha kwabo esimweni kanye nolwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu, abantu abakulesi sigaba baqala ukungena emgudwini olungile futhi bangena esikhathini sokuguquka. Ikulesi sigaba lapho abantu beqala ukuba baphile. Izimpawu ezicacile zokuba nempilo ukuxazululeka kancane kancane kwemibuzo ephathelene nokwazi uNkulunkulu, abantu abanayo ezinhliziyweni zabo—ukungaqondi kahle, ukubuka ngamehlo engqondo, imicabango nezincazelo ezingaqondakali ngoNkulunkulu—ukuthi bakholwe ngempela futhi bazi iqiniso lobukhona bukaNkulunkulu, futhi babenencazelo nokuqonda okucacile ngoNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo, ukuthi ukulandela uNkulunkulu ngeqiniso kuthatha indawo yokholo lwabo olungaqondakali. Kulesi sigaba, abantu, kancane kancane, baqala ukwazi ukungaqondi kahle kwabo ngoNkulunkulu kanye nalokho abakufunayo okungamaphutha nezindlela zokukholwa ezingamaphutha. Baqala ukulangazelela iqiniso, balangazelele ukuzwa ukwahlulela, ukusola nokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu, balangazelele ushintsho esimweni sabo. Kancane kancane balahla izinhlobonhlobo zemicabango, nokubuka ngamehlo engqondo ngoNkulunkulu kulesi sigaba; khona ngaleso sikhathi bayashintsha balungise ulwazi lwabo oluyiphutha ngoNkulunkulu futhi bathole ulwazi oluthile oluqavile futhi olulungile ngoNkulunkulu. Nakuba ingxenye yolwazi abantu abanalo kulesi sigaba aluqondile noma alulunganga, kodwa, nakuba kukuncane, bayaqala kancane kancane ukulahla ukungaqondi kahle, ulwazi oluyiphutha, ukungaboni ngasolinye kwabo noNkulunkulu; ababe besagcina ukucabanga nokubuka ngamehlo engqondo kwabo ngoNkulunkulu. Baqala bafunde ukuthi kulahlwa kanjani—ukulahla izinto ezitholakala emicabangweni, esuka olwazini futhi esuka kuSathane; baqala ukuzimisela ukuthobela izinto ezilungile futhi ezinhle, ngisho izinto eziqhamuka ezwini likaNkulunkulu balandele iqiniso. Bayaqala ukuzama ukuzizwela amazwi kaNkulunkulu, ukuwazi amazwi Akhe ngokwabo nokuwenza, ukwemukela amazwi Akhe njengemiyalo yezenzo zabo futhi njengesisekelo sokushintsha izimo zabo. Ngalesi sikhathi, abantu ngokungazi bayemukela ukwahlulela kanye nokusola kukaNkulunkulu, ngokungazi bayemukela amazwi kaNkulunkulu njengokuphila kwabo. Lapho bemukela ukwahlulela, ukusola kukaNkulunkulu futhi bamukele amazwi kaNkulunkulu, bayakhula ngokuqonda futhi bakwazi ukuzwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu abakholwa kuye ezinhliziyweni zabo, ukhona ngempela. Emazwini kaNkulunkulu, kulokho abadlule kukhona kanye nezimpilo zabo, kuyakhula ukuzwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ubelokhu engamele phezu kwesimiselo somuntu, ubehola umuntu, epha umuntu. Ngokuhlanganyela kwabo noNkulunkulu, kancane kancane bayafakazela ukuba khona kwaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, ngaphambi kokuba babone, sebevele ngokungazi bavuma futhi bakholelwa ngokuqinile, emsebenzini kaNkulunkulu futhi bawavuma amazwi kaNkulunkulu. Uma nje abantu sebevume amazwi kaNkulunkulu nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, bayazidela bangaphezi, badela imicabango yabo, badela ulwazi lwabo, badela ukubona kwabo ngamehlo engqondo, futhi ngesikhathi esifanayo, bayafuna bengaliphonsi ithawula ukuthi yini iqiniso nokuthi yini intando kaNkulunkulu. Ulwazi lwabantu ngoNkulunkulu lukha phezulu, alujulanga ngalesi sikhathi sokukhula—abakwazi ngisho ukucubungula ngokucacile lolwazi besebenzisa amagama, futhi abakwazi ukucubungula ngendlela ethile—futhi banokuqonda abakuzwayo nje; kodwa uma kuqhathaniswa nalezi zigaba ezintathu ezingaphambili, izimpilo ezingakakhuli ngokwanele zabantu abakulesi sigaba sezike zathola ukuchelwa nokuphiwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu futhi seziqalile ukuhluma. Kufana nembewu egqitshwe emhlabathini; emuva kokuthola ubumanzi nezakhi zomzimba, izoqhuma ivele emhlabathini; ukuqhuma kwayo kusho ukuzalwa kwempilo entsha. Ukuzalwa kwempilo entsha kuvumela umuntu ukuthi abone izimpawu zempilo. Ngempilo, abantu bazokhula ngayo. Ngakho, ngale zisekelo—kancane kancane bayangena endleleni elungile yokukholwa nguNkulunkulu, balahla ukucabanga kwabo, bathole ukuqondiswa nguNkulunkulu—izimpilo zabantu zizokhula noma ikanjani isinyathelo ngesinyathelo. Lokhu kukhula kukalwa kususelwa kwesiphi isisekelo? Kukalwa ngasebekuzwile namazwi kaNkulunkulu nangokuqonda kwabo kweqiniso isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu. Nakuba bekuthola kunzima kakhulu ukusebenzisa amagama abo ukuchaza ngokuqondile ulwazi lwabo lukaNkulunkulu nengqikithi Yakhe ngalesi sikhathi sokukhula, leli qembu laba bantu alisazimisele ukuthi ngokuzicabangela nje bafune intokozo ngokujabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu, noma ukuphokophela ukufeza izinhloso zabo ezingemuva komusa Wakhe. Esikhundleni salokho bazimisele ukufuna impilo ngezwi likaNkulunkulu, ukuba ngumenziwa wensindiso kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwengeziwe, banethemba futhi bakulungele ukwemukela ukwahlulela nokusola kukaNkulunkulu. Lokhu uphawu lomuntu osesigabeni sokukhula.
Nakuba abantu abakulesi sigaba benalo ulwazi oluthile ngesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu, lolu lwazi lulufifi futhi luyafikizela. Noma bengakwazi ukukucubungula lokhu ngokucacile, bayezwa ukuthi kukhona asebekuzuzile ngaphakathi, ngoba sebethole isilinganiso esithile solwazi nokuqonda ngesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu ngokusola nokwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu; nokho, konke kunokukha phezulu, futhi kusesezingeni eliphansi. Leli qembu laba bantu linomqondo woqobo eliphatha ngawo umusa kaNkulunkulu. Lo mqondo ubonakaliswa ezinguqukweni zezinjongo abazifunayo kanye nendlela abazifuna ngayo. Sebebonile—emazwini nasemsebenzini kaNkulunkulu, emibandeleni Yakhe enhlobonhlobo kumuntu kanye nezambulo Zakhe ngomuntu—ukuthi uma belokhu bengaphokopheli ukufuna iqiniso, uma belokhu bengaphokopheli ukungena ubukhona obungoboqobo, uma bengafuni ukwenelisa nokwazi uNkulunkulu lapho bezwa amazwi Akhe, bazolahlekelwa ukubaluleka kokukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Bayabona ukuthi akukhathaleki ukuthi bawujabulela kangakanani umusa kaNkulunkulu, abakwazi ukushintsha isimo sabo, banelise uNkulunkulu noma bazi uNkulunkulu, nokuthi uma abantu beqhubeka bephila njalo phakathi komusa kaNkulunkulu, abasoze baphumelela ukukhula, ukuthola impilo noma ukwamukela insindiso. Ngokufingqiwe, uma umuntu engakwazi ukuzizwela amazwi kaNkulunkulu ngokweqiniso, futhi engakwazi ukwazi uNkulunkulu ngamazwi Akhe, umuntu uyosale esigabeni sobusane futhi angathathi ngisho isinyathelo esisodwa ukuyaphambili ekukhuleni kwempilo yakhe. Uma ulokhu uphila esigabeni sokuba usana, uma ungangeni nhlobo ebukhoneni bezwi likaNkulunkulu, uma amazwi kaNkulunkulu engakaze alokothe abe ngawakho ekuphileni kwakho, uma ungakaze ube nenkolelo nolwazi oluyiqiniso ngoNkulunkulu, ikhona indlela yokuthi ungenziwa uphelele nguNkulunkulu? Ngakho noma ubani ongenayo ebukhoneni bezwi likaNkulunkulu, noma ubani owemukela izwi likaNkulunkulu njengokuphila kwakhe, noma ubani oqalayo ukwemukela ukujeziswa nokwahlulela kukaNkulunkulu, noma ubani isimo sakhe esikhohlakele esiqala ukushintsha, futhi noma ubani onenhliziyo elangazelela iqiniso, onesifiso sokwazi uNkulunkulu, onesifiso sokwemukela insindiso kaNkulunkulu—laba bantu yibo abanokuphila kwangempela. Lolu, nguhlobo lwesine lomuntu, lowo oyingane ekhulayo, umuntu osesigabeni sobungane.
Uhlobo lwesihlanu isigaba sempilo ephelelisiwe, noma isigaba sokuba mdala.
Emuva kokudlula esigabeni sobungane sokuba ujahidada, lesi sigaba sokukhula esigcwele ukuhlehla nyova kuphindelela, izimpilo zabantu sezize zazinza, izinyathelo zabo eziya phambili azisakhawuki, futhi akasekho okwazi ukubavimba. Nakuba indlela engaphambili imagebhugebhu futhi imigoxigoxi, abasekho buthakathaka noma abasesabi; abasahambi bephumputha noma balahlekelwe amabombo abo. Lezisekelo zigxilile ekujuleni kokuzizwela izwi likaNkulunkulu. Izinhliziyo zabo zidonswe yisithunzi nobukhulu bukaNkulunkulu. Balangazelela ukulandela ezinyathelweni zikaNkulunkulu, ukwazi ingqikithi kaNkulunkulu, ukwazi konke ngoNkulunkulu.
Abantu abakulesi sigaba sebeyazi ngokusobala ukuthi bakholwa kubani, futhi bazi ngokusobala nokuthi kungani kufanele bakholwe kuNkulunkulu kanye nencazelo ngezimpilo zabo zihlukene; bazi kahle ukuthi konke uNkulunkulu akuvezayo kuyiqiniso. Eminyakeni yabo eminingi yalokho abadlule kukho, bayazi ukuthi ngaphandle kokwahlulela nokujezisa kukaNkulunkulu, umuntu akasoze akwazi ukwenelisa noma ukwazi uNkulunkulu, futhi ngeke umuntu akwazi ukuza phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ezinhliziyweni zalaba bantu ngokuhlukana, kunesifiso esikhulu sokuvivinywa nguNkulunkulu, ukuze babone isimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi bevivinywa, ukuba nothando olumsulwa kakhulu, nokuthi ngaleso sikhathi bakwazi ukuqonda nokwazi ngeqiniso uNkulunkulu. Abalapha kulesi sigaba sebesishiye kude isigaba sobuntwana, isigaba sokujabulela umusa kaNkulunkulu nokudla isinkwa nokusutha. Abasabeki amathemba amakhulu ekwenzeni uNkulunkulu ababekezelele futhi abakhombise isihe; konalokho, banethemba lokuthola futhi bathembe ukujeziswa nokwahlulela okungapheli, ukuze bazihlukanise esimweni sabo esikhohlakele futhi benelise uNkulunkulu. Ulwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu, izinto abazifunayo noma izinhloso zabo zokugcina kulokho abakufunayo: konke lokhu kucace bha ezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngakho, abantu esigabeni sobudala sebevalelisile baqeda esigabeni sokholo olungaqondakali, esigabeni lapho bethembele emuseni ukuze basindiswe, esigabeni sempilo engavuthiwe engakwazi ukumela ukulingwa, esigabeni sokubona lufifi, esigabeni sokuphumputha, esigabeni sokungabi nandlela ozoyithatha, esikhathini sokungazinzi lapho kudedelana ukushisa okuzumayo kanye namakhaza, kanye nesigaba lapho umuntu elandela uNkulunkulu namehlo emboziwe. Lolu hlobo lomuntu luvamile ukuthola ukukhanyiselwa nokukhanya kukaNkulunkulu, futhi uvamile ukuba nokuhambisana nokuxhumana kweqiniso noNkulunkulu. Umuntu angathi abantu abaphila kulesi sigaba sebeyibambile ingxenye yentando kaNkulunkulu; bayakwazi ukuthola imiyalo yeqiniso kukho konke abakwenzayo; bayakwazi ukwenelisa isifiso sikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bayitholile indlela yokwazi uNkulunkulu futhi sebeqalile ukufakazela ulwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi sesikhathi sokukhula kancane kancane, kancane kancane baba nokuqonda nolwazi lwentando kaNkulunkulu, intando kaNkulunkulu yokudala isintu; ngaphezu kwalokho, kancane kancane baba nokuqonda nolwazi lwesimo esilungile sikaNkulunkulu mayelana nengqikithi. Akukho mcabango womuntu noma ukubona ngamehlo engqondo okungathatha indawo yalolu lwazi. Noma umuntu engeke asho ukuthi esigabeni sesihlanu, impilo yomuntu isivuthiwe isiphelelisiwe ngokuphelele noma ubize lowo muntu ngokuthi ulungile noma uphelele, lo muntu usethathe isinyathelo sokuya esigabeni sokupheleliswa empilweni; lo muntu useyakwazi ukuza phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ukuma ubuso nobuso nezwi likaNkulunkulu futhi ubuso nobuso noNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yokuthi lo muntu usezizwele kakhulu izwi likaNkulunkulu, wadlula ezilingweni eziningi futhi wadlula eziwombeni eziningi zokuqondiswa, ukwahlulelwa kanye nokujeziswa nguNkulunkulu, ukuthobela kwakhe uNkulunkulu akuqhathanisi kodwa kuphelele. Ulwazi lwabo ngoNkulunkulu luguqukile lwayeka ukuba olusithekile oluzwakala kancane lwaba ulwazi olucacile futhi oluqondile, lwasuka ekukheni phezulu lwajula, lwasuka ekubeni lufifi nokufiphala lwaba olusobala futhi oluzwakalayo, futhi bashintshile basuka ebumpumputheni obukhandlayo nobufuna nokuyetha baya olwazini ngaphandle kokuzikhandla, nokufakaza okubuka kude. Kungathiwa abantu abakulesi sigaba banabo ubuqobo beqiniso bezwi likaNkulunkulu, ukuthi sebengenile endleleni yokupheleliswa njengoPetru. Lolu uhlobo lwesihlanu lomuntu, umuntu ophila esimweni sokupheleliswa—isigaba sokuba mdala.
Okthoba 30, 2014