Izenzo (6)

        Namuhla, abantu abaningi abanawo ngisho umcabango ophusile noma ukuzazi kukaPawulu, okwathi, nakuba ashaywa iNkosi uJesu, wayesenesinqumo sokusebenza futhi ahlupheke ngenxa Yayo. UJesu wamnika ukugula, futhi kamuva, uPawulu waqhubeka ehlushwa yilokhu kugula ngesikhathi eqala ukusebenza. Kungani athi uneva enyameni yakhe? Iva, eqinisweni, laliwukugula, futhi kuPawulu laliwubuthakathaka obubulalayo. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi wayesebenza kahle kangakanani noma ukuthi isinqumo sakhe sokuhlupheka sasisikhulu kangakanani, wayehlale enalokhu kugula. UPawulu wayenokukhalipha okuqine kakhulu kunani bantu namuhla; wayengagcini nje ngokuba nokuhlakanipha okuphezulu, kodwa futhi wayezazi futhi wayenengqondo kakhulu kunani. Namuhla, ningakhathazeki ngokufika ezingeni lomqondo kaPawulu—abantu abaningi abakwazi ngisho ukuba nomqondo ofana nokaPawulu. Ngemuva kokuba uPawulu eshaywe uJesu, wayeka ukushushisa abafundi, waqala ukushumayela nokuhlupheka ngenxa kaJesu. Kwakugqugquzelwa yini ukuhlupheka kwakhe? UPawulu wayekholwa ukuthi, njengoba ayebone ukukhanya okukhulu, kumele anikeze ubufakazi ngeNkosi uJesu, akusamele ashushise abafundi bakaJesu, futhi akusamele amelane nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ngemuva kokubona ukukhanya okukhulu, waqala ukuhlupheka ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, nokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu, wenza nesinqumo sakhe. Ngemuva kokuba “ukukhanya okukhulu” kukhanyile phezu kwakhe, waqala ukusebenzela uNkulunkulu, futhi wakwazi ukwenza isinqumo sakhe, okwafakazela ukuthi wayenomqondo ohluzekile. Enkolweni, uPawulu wayewumuntu ophakeme kakhulu. Wayenolwazi oluningi futhi enesiphiwo, wayebabukela phansi abantu abaningi, futhi wayenobuntu obunamandla edlula abantu abaningi. Kodwa ngemuva kokuba “ukukhanya okukhulu” kukhanye phezu kwakhe, wathi kumele asebenzele iNkosi uJesu—futhi lokhu kwakuwukuhluzeka komqondo wakhe. Ngesikhathi eshushisa abafundi, uJesu wabonakala kuye wathi, “Pawulu, ungishushiselani?” Ngokushesha uPawulu wawa wathi: “Ungubani Wena?” Iphimbo elivela esibhakabhakeni lathi: “NgiyiNkosi uJesu, oyishushisayo.” Ngaso leso sikhathi, uPawulu wavuka, waqonda, futhi kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho azi khona ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, nokuthi wayenguNkulunkulu. Kumele ngilalele, uNkulunkulu unginike lo musa, nokho ngamshushisa ngalokho, kodwa akazange angishaye ngiwe, futhi akangiqalekisanga—kumele ngihlupheke ngenxa Yakhe. UPawulu wabona ukuthi wayeshushise iNkosi uJesu Kristu futhi manje wayesebulala abafundi Bayo, nokuthi uNkulunkulu wayengamqalekisanga, kodwa wakhanyisa ukukhanya phezu kwakhe; lokhu kwamkhuthaza futhi wathi: “Nakuba ngingabubonanga ubuso Bakhe, ngilizwile izwi Lakhe futhi ngabona nokukhanya Kwakhe okukhulu. Kumanje kuphela lapho ngibona khona ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungithanda ngempela, nokuthi iNkosi uJesu ngempela iyiNkosi enomusa kubantu futhi ithethelela izono zabantu kuze kube phakade. Ngibona ngempela ukuthi ngiyisoni.” Nakuba ngemuva kwalokho, uNkulunkulu asebenzisa izipho zikaPawulu ukuze asebenze, khohlwa yilokhu okwesikhashana. Isinqumo sakhe ngaleso sikhathi, ukuhluzeka komqondo wakhe okujwayelekile nokuzazi kwakhe—anikwazi ukufinyelela kulezi zinto. Namuhla anitholanga yini ukukhanya okukhulu? Ingabe abantu abaningi abakaboni ukuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu ngesobukhosi, ulaka, isahlulelo kanye nokusola? Kukaningi abantu behlelwa iziqalekiso, izilingo futhi becwengwa—futhi yini abayifundile? Ingabe kukhona okuzuze ekuqondisweni nasekubhekwaneni nawe? Amazwi ahlabayo, ukushaya okukhulu, nokwahlulelwa kukwehlele izikhathi eziningi, kodwa awukunaki. Awunawo ngisho nomncane umqondo uPawulu ayenawo—awusilele yini emuva kakhulu? Kuningi uPawulu ayengakuboni ngokucacile. Wayazi kuphela ukuthi ukukhanya kwakukhanye phezu kwakhe, kodwa wayengazi ukuthi wayeshayiwe. Ekukholweni kwakhe, ngemuva kokuba ukukhanya kukhanye phezu kwakhe, kumele azikhandlele uNkulunkulu, futhi enze konke ukuze aphendlele iNkosi uJesu Kristu indlela, futhi azuze izoni eziningi ezizohlengwa yiNkosi. Lesi kwakuyisinqumo sakhe, futhi kwakuwukuphela kwenhloso yomsebenzi wakhe—kodwa ngesikhathi esebenza, isifo sasingasuki kuye, kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. UPawulu wasebenza iminyaka engaphezu kwengamashumi amabili. Wahlupheka kakhulu, futhi wabhekana noshushiso oluningi kanye nezinhlupheko, nakuba, empeleni izilingo zakhe zazincane kakhulu kunezikaPetru. Kudabukisa kangakanani uma ningenawo umqondo kaPawulu? Kulokhu, uNkulunkulu angawenza kanjani ngisho umsebenzi omkhulu ngokwengeziwe kini?

         Lapho esabalalisa ivangeli, uPawulu wahlupheka kakhulu. Isinqumo sakhe, umsebenzi awenza, ukholo lwakhe, ubuqotho, uthando, ukubekezela, nokuthobeka ngaleso sikhathi, nezimo eziningi zangaphandle ayeziphila, kwakuphakeme kunani bantu namuhla. Ukukubeka ngendlela eqine nakakhulu, aninakho ukuhluzeka komqondo okujwayelekile! Aninawo ngisho unembeza noma ubuntu—kuningi enikuntulayo! Ngalokho, isikhathi esiningi, kulokho enikuphilayo, akukho ukuhluzeka komqondo okujwayelekile okutholakalayo, futhi alukho uphawu lokuzazi. Nakuba umzimba kaPawulu wahlushwa ukugula, wayelokhu ethandaza futhi efuna: Kuyini lokhu kugula—ngenzele iNkosi wonke lo msebenzi, kungani kungangishiyi? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi iNkosi uJesu iyangivivinya? Ingabe ingishayile? Ukube yayingishayile, ngabe ngafa ngaleso sikhathi, futhi ngabe angikwazi ukuyenzela wonke lo msebenzi, futhi ngabe angikutholanga ukukhanya okungaka. Yasibona nesinqumo sami. UPawulu wayehlale ezwa ukuthi lesi sifo siyindlela uNkulunkulu amvivinya ngayo, ukuthi sasicindezela ukholo lwakhe namandla akhe okuzimisela—wayecabanga lokho. Eqinisweni, lesi sifo saqala ngesikhathi eshaywa yiNkosi uJesu. Samenza wacindezeleka emqondweni, sasusa okuningi kwesimo sakhe sokuvukela. Uma nizithola nisezimweni zikaPawulu, yini eniyoyenza? Ingabe isinqumo senu siyoba sikhulu kunesikaPawulu? Ingabe ningakwazi ukuhlupheka kakhulu kunaye? Lapho abantu namuhla bengenwa ukugula okuncane noma behlelwa isilingo esikhulu, ukuhlupheka kwabo kubashiya bekhathazeke kakhulu. Uma benivalelwe ebhokisini lezinyoni nangakhishwa, beningeke nibe nankinga, yonke into eniyidingayo okuwukudla nokuphuzwayo benizoyinikwa. Ukube bekungenjalo beniyofana nezimpisi. Ukuhlupheka okuncane noma ubunzima kuyinto enhle kini; ukube beninikwe isikhathi esilula beniyolahleka, futhi beningavikelwa kanjani? Namuhla, kungenxa yokuthi nisoliwe, niqalekisiwe, futhi nahlulelwa, okwenze nanikwa isivikelo. Nivikelwa ngenxa yokuthi senihlupheke kakhulu. Ngale kwalokho, umuntu ngabe kudala awela enkohlakalweni. Izinto angizenzi zibe nzima kini ngenhloso—imvelo yomuntu inesisekelo esiqinile, futhi isimo sabanye abantu kufanele siguqulwe ngale ndlela. Namuhla, aninawo ngisho umqondo ohluzekile noma ukuzazi kukaPawulu, futhi aninawo unembeza wakhe. Nihlale nifuna ukufakwa ngaphansi kwengcindezi, futhi nihlale nifuna ukusolwa nokwahlulelwa ukuze nivuse imimoya yenu. Ukujeziswa nokwahlulela izona zinto ezingcono ekuphileni kwenu. Futhi uma kunesidingo, kumele kuphinde kube nokusola kokufika kwamaqiniso; niyozithoba ngokuphelele lapho kuphela. Imvelo yenu ingukuthi ngaphandle kokusola nesiqalekiso, beningeke nivume ukugobisa amakhanda enu, beningeke nizimisele ukuthoba. Ngaphandle kwamaqiniso phambi kwamehlo enu, bekungeke kube n0mphumela. Niphansi kakhulu futhi anilusizo lwalutho ngokwesimilo! Ngaphandle kokusola nesahlulelo, bekuyoba nzima ukuthi ninqotshwe, futhi bekuyoba nzima ukuthi kucindezelwe ukungalungi nokungalaleli kwenu. Imvelo yenu endala ingene yajula. Ukube benibekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, beningeke nikwazi ukuphakama kwamazulu nokujula komhlaba, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi naniphokophelephi. Anazi nokuthi navela kuphi, ngakho ningamazi kanjani uMdali? Ngaphandle kokusola okwenziwe ngesikhathi nesiqalekiso sanamuhla, izinsuku zenu zokugcina ngabe kade zafika. Ayiphathwa eyesiphetho senu—asikho yini sona engozini ngokwengeziwe? Ngaphandle kwalokhu kusola nesahlulelo okufika ngesikhathi, ubani owaziyo ukuthi ngabe inkani yenu isingakanani, ubani owazi ukuthi ngabe nonakele kangakanani. Lokhu kusola nesahlulelo kunilethe esikhathini sanamuhla, futhi kulondoloze ukuba khona kwenu. Ukube “benisafundiswa” ngezindlela ezifana “nezoyihlo,” ubani owaziyo ukuthi beniyongena kuliphi izwe! Aninalo ikhono lokuzilawula futhi nizibheke. Kwanele kubantu abafana nani, ukumane balandele, balalele, futhi bangagxambukeli noma baphazamise ukuze izinhloso Zami zifezeke. Akufanele yini nenze kangcono ekwamukeleni ukusola nesahlulelo kwanamuhla? Yikuphi okunye eningakhetha kukho? Lapho uPawulu ebona iNkosi uJesu, nalapho akazange akholwe. Kamuva, ngemuva kokuba iNkosi uJesu ibethelwe esiphambanweni, walazi leli qiniso, kodwa waqhubeka nokushushisa nokuphikisa. Yilokhu okushiwo ngokona ngamabomu, ngenxa yalokho washaywa. Ekuqaleni, wayazi ukuthi kwakuneNkosi phakathi kwamaJuda eyayibizwa ngoJesu, wayekuzwile lokhu. Kamuva, njengoba ayenikeza izintshumayelo ethempelini futhi eshumayela kulo lonke izwe, wamelana noJesu, futhi wayenqaba ngokuphakama ukulandela omunye umuntu. Lezi zinto zaba isithiyo esikhulu emsebenzini wangaleso sikhathi. Ngesikhathi uJesu esebenza, uPawulu akashushisanga futhi wabopha abantu ngokuqondile, kodwa wasebenzisa izintshumayelo namazwi ukuze acekele phansi umsebenzi. Kamuva, lapho iNkosi uJesu Kristu ibethelwe esiphambanweni, waqala ukubopha abafundi, egijima izindawo futhi enza konke ayengakwenza ukuze abahluphe. Kungemuva kokuba “ukukhanya” kukhanye phezu kwakhe kuphela lapho avuka khona futhi wazisola kakhulu. Ngemuva kokuba eshayiwe, ukugula kwakhe akuzange kumshiye. Ngezinye izikhathi, wayecabanga ukuthi ukuhlupheka kwakhe kudlondlobala kakhulu futhi wayengasakwazi ukukumela. Wayecabanga:[a] “Kwenzekani? Ingabe ngempela ngishayiwe?” Ngakho, engazi nokuthi kwenzekeni, wayephinde athole ukuthi usengcono, bese eqala futhi ukusebenza. Kodwa ukugula akuzange kumshiye, futhi umsebenzi omningi wawenza ngenxa yokugula kwakhe. Kungashiwo ukuthi uJesu wabeka lokhu kugula kuPawulu ngenxa yokuzithwala nokuqhosha kwakhe; kwakuyisijeziso sakhe, kodwa futhi ngenxa yomsebenzi omkhulu ngokwengeziwe kaJesu—uJesu wasebenzisa iziphiwo zikaPawulu emsebenzini Wakhe. Eqinisweni, kwakungeyona inhloso kaJesu ukusindisa uPawulu, kodwa ukumsebenzisa. Nokho, isimo sikaPawulu sasinokuzithwala nenkani kakhulu, futhi ngalokho kwabekwa “iva” kuye. Baningi kini abafana noPawulu, kodwa uma ninaso ngempela isinqumo sokulandela kuze kube sekugcineni, ngeke niphathwe kabi. Ekugcineni, ngesikhathi uPawulu aqeda ngaso umsebenzi wakhe, ukugula kwakungasabonakali kubuhlungu kangako kuye, ngenxa yalokho wakwazi kamuva ukusho la mazwi, “Ngiyiqedile inkambo yami, ngikulwile ukulwa okuhle, futhi ngibekelwe umqhele wokulunga”—okuyinto ayisho ngoba wayengazi. Ngeke sikhulume ngenye into, ake sigxile engxenyeni enhle kuye nencomekayo: Wayenonembeza, futhi ngemuva kokuba ukukhanya kukhanye phezu kwakhe wazinikela kuNkulunkulu, wahlupheka ngenxa kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwemvelo, lolu uhlangothi lwakhe oluncomekayo, lawa kwakungamandla akhe. Ngeke sikhulume ngendlela avukela futhi waphikisa ngayo; sizogxila ekukhulumeni ngokuhluzeka komqondo wakhe komuntu ojwayelekile, nokuthi wayezazi yini noma cha. Uma kunalabo abakholwa yilokho, ngenxa yokuthi wayenamandla, lokhu kufakazela ukuthi wayengumuntu owayebusisiwe, owayekholwa ukuthi empeleni wayengasoliwe, nokuthi lawa kwakungamazwi abantu abangenangqondo.

        Lapho sengiqedile ukukhuluma nabo ubuso nobuso, abantu abaningi baphinde bachithakale uma sebesekusithekeni Kimi, bengacabangi ukuthi amazwi Ami abalulekile. Ngikhuluma izikhathi eziningi, ngembule umkhakha ngomkhakha, kuze kwembuleke umkhakha ongaphansi ekugcineni, “bathola ukuthula,” bangabe besabanga ezinye izinkinga. Ngokwezimo zenu njengoba zinjalo namuhla, kumele nihlaselwe kabuhlungu futhi nembulwe, nahlulelwe kungashiywa lutho, nize ningakwazi ngisho nokuphefumula. Kumele nihlale nishaywa futhi nivezwa obala, futhi kini kubonakala sengathi ukusolwa akulokothi kuhlukane nani, leso siqalekiso, naso asilokothi sidede kini, ngisho nesahlulelo esibuhlungu, kunivumela ukuba nibone ukuthi isandla sezinqumo zikaNkulunkulu zokuphatha asilokothi sisuke kini. Lokhu kungcono, kunjengalapho u-Aroni ebona ukuthi uJehova akazange amshiye. (Kodwa akubona kwakuyinsindiso nesivikelo sikaJehova esingayi ndawo; isiqondiso osibona namuhla siwukusola, isiqalekiso, nesahlulelo.) Namuhla, isandla sezinqumo zikaJehova zokuphatha nani asinishiyi, kodwa kunento eyodwa “eningakhululeka” ngayo: Akunandaba ukuthi niphikisa, nihlubuka, futhi nehlulela kangakanani, ngeke nilimale enyameni yenu. Kodwa kunabantu abahamba ibanga elide ngokwedlulele ekuphikiseni kwabo, okuyinto engamukeleki; kunomkhawulo, futhi akwamukeleki ukuthi nina niphazamise umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Namuhla, ningakhuluma futhi nenze ngaphandle kwemiphumela engemihle—kodwa ningaphazamisi noma nithikameze ukuphila kwebandla, ningawuphazamisi umsebenzi kaMoya oNgcwele. Kokunye, ningenza enikufunayo. Nithi ngeke nifune ukuphila bese nifuna ukubuyela ezweni. Ngakho phuthumani nihambe! Ningenza noma yini eniyifisayo, uma nje kungawuphazamisi umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa kunento eyodwa okumele niyazi: Ekugcineni, izoni ezinenkani ezona ngabomu zizoqothulwa. Nokho namuhla, anikhuzwa. Ekugcineni, yidlanzana labantu kuphela eliyonikeza ubufakazi—abanye bayoba sengozini. Uma ningafuni ukuba kuleli dlanzana, kulungile. Abantu banamuhla baphathwa “ngesineke”; anginibekeli imikhawulo. Kulungile, uma nje ningakwesabi ukusola kwakusasa. Kodwa uma ukuleli dlanzana, kumele unikeze ubufakazi, futhi kumele usolwe. Uma uthi ngeke usakwazi ukukubekezelela, futhi ufisa ukushaywa umoya, kulungile—akekho okuvimbayo! Kodwa ngeke ngikuvumele ukuba wenze umsebenzi obhidlizayo futhi owenza umsebenzi kaMoya oNgcwele ungahleleki—kalula nje ngeke uthethelelwe ngalokho! Ngokwalokho amehlo akho akubonayo nezindlebe zakho ezikuzwayo, abantu abasolwayo, nemindeni yabo eqalekisiwe—kunemingcele nemikhawuko kulokhu. UMoya oNgcwele akazenzi kalula izinto. Ngenxa yezono zomuntu nakho konke enikwenzile, ukube bekudingeka niphathwe futhi ningathathwa kancane ngokuvumelana nokungalungi kwenu, ubani kini obengasinda? Izinkinga ezinkulu ziyonehlela—ingabe umuntu izinto ziyobe zisamlungele lapho? Kodwa namuhla, abantu abaningi bayabekezelelwa. Nakuba nahlulela, nihlubuka, futhi niphikisa, inqobo nje uma ningaphazamisi, khona-ke ngiyobhekana nani ngimomotheka. Uma nikulwela ngempela ukuphila, khona-ke kumele nibhekane nokusolwa kancane, kumele nibekezele, kumele nibekezelele ubuhlungu bokuhlukana nalokho enikuthandayo ukuze uye etafuleni lokuhlinzwa, kumele ubekezelele ubuhlungu, wamukele izilingo nokuhlupheka njengoPetru. Namuhla, niphambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela. Esikhathini esizayo, kumele niye “emshinini okunqunywa kuwo abantu,” okuyilapho nizozinikela khona.

         Phakathi nesigaba sokugcina somsebenzi wezinsuku zokugcina, nonke kumele nazi ukuthi ningakholwa ekutheni uNkulunkulu ngeke ayiqothule inyama yenu, futhi kungashiwo ukuthi ngeke niphathwe yinoma ikuphi ukugula nakuba nimelana Naye futhi nimahlulela—kodwa lapho amazwi kaNkulunkulu aqinile ehlela phezu kwenu, ngeke nicashe, futhi niyaxhamazela futhi nikhathazeke. Kodwa namuhla, kumele nibe nawo unembeza omncane. Ningabi yilabo abaphikisa futhi bahlubuke kuNkulunkulu, ningabi ababi. Kufanele nifulathele okhokho benu abadala; yilokhu kuphela okubonisa ukuthi ninesiqu seqiniso, kanye nalobu buntu okufanele nibe nabo. Nihlale ningakwazi ukubeka eceleni amathemba enu noma izinjabulo zanamuhla. UNkulunkulu uthi: Uma nje nenza konke eningakwenza ukuze ningilandele, nakanjani ngizonenza niphelele. Ngemuva kokupheleliswa kwenu, kuyoba namathemba amahle—niyongeniswa embusweni Wami ukuze nijabulele izibusiso Nami. Ninesiphetho, kodwa izimfuno zenu azilokothi zinciphe. Kuphinde kube nombandela: Kule ndawo, akunandaba ukuthi nizonqotshwa noma nizokwenziwa niphelele, namhlanje kumele nidluliswe ekusolweni okuthile, nasekuhluphekeni okuthile, kumele nishaywe, niqondiswe, kumele nilalele amazwi Ami, nilandele indlela Yami, futhi nifeze intando kaNkulunkulu—yilokhu okufanele nina bantu nikwenze. Kungakhathaleki ukuthi nilwa kanjani, kumele nizwe ngokucacile ngale ndlela. Uma ubone ngempela futhi ngobuqotho, khona-ke ungaqhubeka ulandele. Uma ukholwa ngempela ukuthi akunamathemba lapha, ungahamba. La mazwi akhulunywe ngokucacile kuwe, kodwa uma ufisa ngempela ukuhamba, lokho kusho ukuthi awunawo nomncane unembeza; lesi senzo sakho sanele ukufakazela ukuthi uyidimoni. Nakuba uthi konke kufanele kushiyelwe kuNkulunkulu, ngenxa yalokhu okuphilayo, nenyama yakho, usaphila ngaphansi kokubusa kukaSathane. Nakuba uSathane naye esezandleni zikaNkulunkulu, wena uqobo lwakho ungokaSathane, futhi yima kusafanele usindiswe uNkulunkulu, ngoba usaphila ngaphansi kwethonya likaSathane. Kufanele ufune kanjani ukuze usindiswe ngokuphelele? Uwena okhethayo: Ungabaleka, ungandiza, ungaya nomaphi la ofuna ukuya khona, kuncike kuwe—kufanele ukhethe indlela okufanele uyithathe. Ekugcineni, uma ungathi: Anginalutho olungcono, uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngilubuyisa ngonembeza wami, futhi kumele ngibe nobuntu obuncane. Ngeke ngifeze lutho olukhulu, nezinga lami aliphakeme; angiyiqondi imibono nomqondo womsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ngimane ngibuyisa uthando lukaNkulunkulu, ngenza noma yini uNkulunkulu ayicelayo, ngenza konke engingakwenza—ngenza umsebenzi wami njengesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu—futhi ngale ndlela, ngizwa ngikhululekile. Lobu ubufakazi obukhulu kunabo bonke ongabunikeza. Le yindinganiso ephakeme edingeka engxenyeni yabantu: ukwenza umsebenzi wesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu. Kumele wenze okuningi ongakwazi ukukwenza. Izinto uNkulunkulu azifuna kuwe aziphakeme kakhulu; uma nje wenza okusemandleni akho, khona-ke kulokhu unikeza ubufakazi.

        Imibhalo engezansi:

        a. Umbhalo wokuqala ushiya ukuthi “Wacabanga.”

Umthombo: IBandla LikaNkulunkulu USomandla