Abalwa NoNkulunkulu Ngeke Banqobe!

“Bayakulwa nawe, kepha abayikukwahlula.”—JEREMIYA 1:19.

1. UJeremiya wamiswa ukuba abe yini, futhi umsebenzi wakhe waqhubeka isikhathi esingakanani?

UJEHOVA wamisa uJeremiya owayesemncane ukuba abe umprofethi ezizweni. (Jeremiya 1:5) Lokhu kwenzeka ngesikhathi sokubusa kwenkosi enhle yakwaJuda, uJosiya. Inkonzo kaJeremiya njengomprofethi yaqhubeka phakathi nenkathi yeziyaluyalu ngaphambi kokunqotshwa kweJerusalema yiBabiloni nokuyiswa kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu ekudingisweni.—Jeremiya 1:1-3.

2. UJehova wamqinisa kanjani uJeremiya, futhi ukulwa nalowo mprofethi kwakushoni?

² Imiyalezo yezahlulelo okwakudingeka uJeremiya ayimemezele nakanjani yayizobangela ukuba aphikiswe. Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu wamqinisela lokho ayezobhekana nakho. (Jeremiya 1:8-10) Ngokwesibonelo, lo mprofethi waqiniswa yila mazwi: “‘Bayakulwa nawe, kepha abayikukwahlula, ngokuba nginawe,’ usho uJehova, ‘ukuba ngikophule.’” (Jeremiya 1:19) Ukulwa noJeremiya kwakuyosho ukulwa noNkulunkulu. Namuhla, uJehova uneqembu lezinceku ezinjengomprofethi, ezimsebenzi wazo ufana nokaJeremiya. Njengaye, zimemezela izwi likaNkulunkulu lesiprofetho ngesibindi. Futhi lo myalezo ubathinta kahle noma kabi abantu ngabanye nezizwe, kuye ngokuthi basabela kanjani kuwo. Njengasesikhathini sikaJeremiya, kukhona abalwa noNkulunkulu ngokuphikisana nezinceku zakhe nemisebenzi yazo eziyabelwe ngokwaphezulu.

 Izinceku ZikaJehova Ziyahlaselwa

3. Kungani izinceku zikaJehova ziye zahlaselwa?

³ Abantu bakaJehova bebelokhu behlaselwa kusukela ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20. Emazweni amaningi, abantu abanezinhloso ezimbi baye bazama ukuthiya—yebo, ukuthulisa—ukumenyezelwa kwezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Baye bagqugquzelwa yiSitha sethu esikhulu, uDeveli, ‘ohambahamba njengengonyama ebhongayo, efuna ukushwabadela othile.’ (1 Petru 5:8) Ngemva kokuphela ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zezizwe’ ngo-1914, uNkulunkulu wabeka iNdodana yakhe ukuba ibe yiNkosi entsha yomhlaba, wayiyala: “Busa wena phakathi kwezitha zakho.” (Luka 21:24; IHubo 110:2) Esebenzisa amandla akhe, uKristu wamkhipha uSathane ezulwini, wamvalela emhlabeni. Njengoba azi ukuthi unesikhathi esifushane, uDeveli ukhiphela ulaka lwakhe kumaKristu agcotshiwe nabangane bawo. (IsAmbulo 12:9, 17) Iye yaba yini imiphumela yokuhlasela okuphindaphindiwe kwalaba abalwa noNkulunkulu?

4. Yikuphi ukulingwa abantu bakaJehova ababhekana nakho phakathi nenkathi yeMpi Yezwe I, kodwa kwenzekani ngo-1919 nango-1922?

⁴ Izinceku zikaJehova ezigcotshiwe zabhekana nokuvivinywa kokholo okuningi phakathi neMpi Yezwe I. Zahlekwa usulu futhi zanyundelwa, zisukelwa yizixuku zabantu futhi zishaywa. Njengoba uJesu abikezela, zaba ‘yizinto zokuzondwa  yizizwe zonke.’ (Mathewu 24:9) Lapho izwe lisavukwe uhlevane ngenxa yempi, izitha zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zasebenzisa iqhinga elalisetshenziswe kuJesu Kristu. Zaqamba amanga zathi abantu bakaJehova bavukela umbuso, zigalela kulo kanye iziko lenhlangano kaNkulunkulu ebonakalayo. Ngo-May 1918, uhulumeni wakhipha amasamanisi okuba kuboshwe umongameli we-Watch Tower Society, uJ. F. Rutherford, nabayisikhombisa ayebambisene nabo eduze. La madoda angu-8 anikwa izigwebo ezinzima zokuvalelwa ejele ayesethunyelwa ejele likahulumeni lokuqondisa izigwegwe e-Atlanta, eGeorgia, e-U.S.A. Ezinyangeni ezingu-9 kamuva akhululwa. Ngo-May 1919 inkantolo yesigodi yokudlulisela amacala yakhipha isinqumo sokuthi kwakube nokwenzelela lapho kuqulwa icala lalaba bamangalelwa, ngakho isigwebo sahoxiswa. Icala lahlehliselwa ukuba liqulwe kabusha, kodwa kamuva uhulumeni wakuhoxisa ukuqulwa kwecala, futhi esulwa ngokuphelele amacala ayebekwe wona uMfoweth’ uRutherford nayebambisene nabo. Baphindela emisebenzini yabo, futhi imihlangano eyaba seCedar Point, e-Ohio, ngo-1919 nango-1922 yafaka umfutho omusha emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso.

5. OFakazi BakaJehova babhekana naziphi izimo eJalimane lobuNazi?

⁵ Ngawo-1930, kwavela imibuso yomashiqela, futhi i-Italy, iJalimane neJapane abumbana akha iMibuso Esizanayo. Ekuqaleni kwalelo shumi leminyaka, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baqala ukushushiswa ngonya olubi, ikakhulukazi eJalimane lobuNazi. Kwamiswa imithetho ebavimbelayo. Imizi yabo yaseshwa, ababehlala kuyo baboshwa. Izinkulungwane zafakwa emakamu okuhlushwa ngoba zenqaba ukulahla ukholo lwazo. Injongo yalokhu kulwa noNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe yayiwukubaqothula baphele oFakazi BakaJehova kule ndawo eyayibuswa omashiqela. * Lapho oFakazi BakaJehova beya ezinkantolo eJalimane ukuze balwele amalungelo abo, uMnyango Wezobulungisa woMbuso kaHitler wabhala incwadi ende enikeza umbono wawo ukuze uqinisekise ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova abaphumeleli. Yayithi: “Izinkantolo akumelwe zehluleke ngenxa yezinqubo nje ezibonakala zihambisana nomthetho; kodwa kumelwe zifune futhi zithole izindlela zokufeza izibopho zazo ezibalulekile, naphezu kobunzima obubangelwa yilezo zinqubo.” Lokhu kwakusho ukuthi kwakungeke kube nobulungisa. AmaNazi abambelela kwelokuthi imisebenzi yoFakazi BakaJehova yayinobutha, inenzondo, futhi ‘iphazamisa uhlelo Lwezwe Lokusebenzela Uhulumeni.’

6. Yimiphi imizamo eyenziwa yokumisa umsebenzi wethu phakathi neMpi Yezwe II nangemva kwayo?

⁶ Phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, kwamiswa imithetho ebavimbelayo nebabekela imingcele abantu bakaNkulunkulu e-Australia, eCanada nakwamanye amazwe ayeyingxenye yoMfelandawonye WeBrithani—e-Afrika, e-Asia naseziqhingini zaseCaribbean nezasePacific. E-United States, izitha ezinethonya nabantu ababenolwazi olungaqondile ngoFakazi ‘basebenza okubi kungathi ngomthetho.’ (IHubo 94:20) Kodwa izimpikiswano ezimayelana nokukhulekela ifulege nemithetho esekelwa ngumphakathi evimbela ukushumayela endlini ngendlu zalwelwa ezinkantolo, futhi izinqumo zezinkantolo ezisivunayo e-United States zakha insika eqinile yenkululeko yokukhulekela. Ngenxa kaJehova, imizamo yezitha ayizange inqobe. Lapho impi iphela eYurophu, le mithetho evimbelayo yasuswa. Izinkulungwane zoFakazi ababeboshwe emakamu okuhlushwa zakhululwa, kodwa lwaluselude ukhalo. Ngemva nje kweMpi Yezwe II, kwaqubuka iMpi Yomshoshaphansi. Amazwe aseMpumalanga Yurophu aletha okunye ukucindezela kubantu bakaJehova. Kwathathwa izinyathelo zomthetho ukuze kuthikamezwe futhi kumiswe imisebenzi yethu yokushumayela, kumiswe ukusakazwa kwezincwadi zeBhayibheli futhi kuqedwe imihlangano yethu yasobala. Abaningi babeboshwa noma bathunyelwe emakamu bayogqilazwa.

Umsebenzi Wokushumayela Uyaqhubeka!

7. Kuye kwenzekani koFakazi BakaJehova ePoland, eRussia nakwamanye amazwe eminyakeni yamuva?

⁷ Ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka, umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso wavuleka. IPoland, nakuba yayisengaphansi kokubusa kobuKhomanisi, yavuma ukuba kuqhutshwe imihlangano  emikhulu yosuku olulodwa ngo-1982. Kwaba nemihlangano yezizwe zonke ngo-1985. Ngo-1989 kwalandela imihlangano emikhulukazi yezizwe zonke, kwaba khona izinkulungwane ezivela eRussia nase-Ukraine. Ngalowo nyaka eHungary nasePoland oFakazi BakaJehova baqashelwa ngokomthetho. Ekwindla ka-1989 kwadilizwa uDonga LwaseBerlin. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, saqashelwa ngokomthetho eMpumalanga Jalimane, futhi ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho kwaba nomhlangano wezizwe zonke eBerlin. Futhi ekuqaleni kweshumi leminyaka eliphetha ikhulu lama-20, kwenziwa imizamo yokuthintana mathupha nabafowethu baseRussia. Kwakhulunywa nezinye zezikhulu zaseMoscow, futhi ngo-1991, oFakazi BakaJehova babhaliswa ngokomthetho. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, umsebenzi uye wakhula ngokubabazekayo eRussia, ngokufanayo nasezifundazweni ezazikade ziyingxenye yeSoviet Union yangaphambili.

8. Kwenzekani kubantu bakaJehova eminyakeni engu-45 yangemva kokuphela kweMpi Yezwe II?

⁸ Nakuba ukushushiswa kwadamba kwezinye izindawo, kwakhula kwezinye. Eminyakeni engu-45 ngemva kokuphela kwempi yezwe yesibili, amazwe amaningi enqaba ukuqaphela oFakazi BakaJehova njengenkolo esemthethweni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwamiswa imithetho evimbela thina uqobo noma imisebenzi yethu emazweni angu-23 e-Afrika, angu-9 e-Asia, angu-8 eYurophu, angu-3 eLatin America nangu-4 eziqhingini ezithile.

9. Yini izinceku zikaJehova eziye zabhekana nayo eMalawi?

⁹ EMalawi oFakazi BakaJehova babhekana nokushushiswa okunonya kusukela ngo-1967. Ngenxa yokuma kwabo kokungathathi hlangothi njengamaKristu eqiniso, esikholwa nabo kulelo zwe babengenakuwathenga amakhadi ezinhlangano zezombangazwe. (Johane 17:16) Ngemva komhlangano we-Malawi Congress Party ngo-1972, ukuhlukunyezwa kwaqala phansi. Abafowethu baxoshwa emizini yabo futhi benqatshelwa nemisebenzi. Izinkulungwane zabaleka kulelo zwe ukuze zingabulawa. Kodwa ingabe labo ababelwa noNkulunkulu nabantu bakhe banqoba? Lutho neze! Ngemva kokushintsha kwezimo, ngo-1999 kwabika inani eliphakeme labamemezeli boMbuso abangu-43 767 eMalawi, futhi bangaphezu kuka-120 000 ababa khona emihlanganweni yesigodi yakhona. Sekwakhiwe ihhovisi legatsha elisha enhloko-dolobha.

Bafuna Izaba

10. NjengakuDaniyeli, yini abaphikisi banamuhla babantu bakaNkulunkulu abaye bayenza?

¹⁰ Izihlubuki, abefundisi, nabanye abanakuwumela umyalezo wethu oseZwini likaNkulunkulu. Becindezelwa yizingxenye ezithile zenkolo yeLobukholwa, abaphikisi bafuna izaba okuthiwa zingokomthetho ukuze bazithethelele ngokulwa nathi. Yimaphi amaqhinga abawasebenzisayo ngezinye izikhathi? Yini abakhi bozungu abayenza lapho behlasela umprofethi uDaniyeli? KuDaniyeli 6:4, 5 siyafunda: “Abongameli nezikhulu base befuna ukuthola utho ngoDaniyeli oluqondene nombuso, kepha abatholanga lutho nacala kuye, ngokuba wayethembekile; akutholwanga siphosiso nacala kuye. Ayesethi lawa madoda: ‘Asiyikuthola lutho ngoDaniyeli, uma singalutholi kokuqondene nomthetho kaNkulunkulu wakhe.’” Namuhla, abaphikisi ngokufanayo bafuna izaba. Bavusa umsindo ‘ngamahlelo ayingozi’ futhi bazame ukubiza oFakazi BakaJehova ngelinye lalawo mahlelo. Bahlasela indlela yethu yokukhulekela nokunamathela kwethu ezimisweni zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ngokunikeza umbono ongeyiwo ngathi, ukugigiyela nangamanga.

11. Yiziphi izinkulumo ezingamanga eziye zashiwo abanye babaphikisi boFakazi BakaJehova?

¹¹ Kwamanye amazwe, amalungu ahlukahlukene enkolo nawezombangazwe awafuni ukukuvuma ukuthi siqhuba “indlela yokukhulekela ehlanzekile nengangcolile ngokombono kaNkulunkulu.” (Jakobe 1:27) Nakuba imisebenzi yethu yobuKristu yenziwa emazweni angu-234, abaphikisi bathi asiyona “inkolo eyaziwayo.” Ngaphambi nje komhlangano wezizwe zonke ngo-1998, iphephandaba lase-Athens lacaphuna abefundisi besonto lamaGreki Lobu-Orthodox bethi “[oFakazi BakaJehova] abayona ‘inkolo eyaziwayo,’” naphezu kwesinqumo seNkantolo YaseYurophu Yamalungelo Abantu esithi bayiyo. Ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva, elinye iphephandaba kulo leli dolobha lacaphuna umkhulumeli othile  wesonto ethi: “[OFakazi BakaJehova] abanakuba ‘yibandla lobuKristu,’ ngoba akukho lutho olubahlanganisa nenkolo yobuKristu ebonakaliswa uJesu Kristu.” Kuyamangaza lokhu, ngoba alikho iqembu lenkolo eligcizelela ukulingisa uJesu ngaphezu koFakazi BakaJehova!

12. Lapho silwa impi yethu engokomoya, kumelwe senzeni?

¹² Sifuna ukuvikela nokumisa izindaba ezinhle ngezindlela ezisemthethweni. (Filipi 1:7) Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngeke siyekethise noma sixegise ekunamatheleni ngokuqinile ezindinganisweni zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. (Thithu 2:10, 12) NjengoJeremiya, ‘sibopha izinkalo zethu, sikhulume konke uJehova asiyala ngakho,’ singavumeli abalwa noNkulunkulu ukuba basifake ingebhe. (Jeremiya 1:17, 18, NW) IZwi likaJehova Elingcwele liye layichaza ngokucacile inkambo okufanele siyithathe. Asifuni nanini ukuncika ‘engalweni yenyama’ ebuthakathaka noma sifune ‘ukuphephela emthunzini waseGibithe,’ okungukuthi, leli zwe. (2 IziKronike 32:8; Isaya 30:3; 31:1-3) Lapho silwa impi engokomoya, kumelwe siqhubeke ‘sithembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu, simvumele aqondise izinyathelo zethu futhi singanciki kokwethu ukuqonda.’ (IzAga 3:5-7) Uma uJehova engasisekeli futhi singaqashiwe nguye uqobo, wonke umsebenzi wethu uyoba ‘yize.’—IHubo 127:1.

Siyashushiswa Kodwa Asiyekethisi

13. Kungani kungase kuthiwe ukuhlaselwa kukaJesu kobuSathane akuphumelelanga?

¹³ Isibonelo esivelele sokuzinikela kuJehova ngokungayekethisi esikaJesu, njengoba abhecwa ngecala lokuvukela umbuso nelokudala isiyaluyalu. Ngemva kokuhlola icala likaJesu, uPilatu wayezimisele ukumkhulula. Kodwa isixuku, esasigqugquzelwa abaholi benkolo, sakhamuluka sithi uJesu makabethelwe, nakuba ayengenacala. Esikhundleni sakhe, sathi makukhululwe uBaraba—umuntu owayeboshelwe ukuvukela umbuso nokubulala! UPilatu waphinde wazama ukubakhalima laba baphikisi ababengenangqondo, kodwa ekugcineni wayeka ngenxa yokuhlokoma kwabantu. (Luka 23:2, 5,  14, 18-25) Nakuba uJesu afela esigxotsheni, lokho kuhlaselwa kobuSathane kweNdodana kaNkulunkulu engenacala okunyantisa kunakho konke akuphumelelanga neze, ngoba uJehova wamvusa uJesu futhi wamphakamisela esandleni saKhe sokunene. Futhi ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., kusetshenziswa uJesu okhazinyulisiwe, kwathululwa umoya ongcwele, kwamiswa ibandla lobuKristu—“indalo entsha.”—2 Korinte 5:17; IzEnzo 2:1-4.

14. Waba yini umphumela lapho amalungu enkolo angamaJuda emelana nabalandeli bakaJesu?

¹⁴ Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, amalungu enkolo asongela abaphostoli, kodwa labo balandeli bakaKristu abazange bayeke ukukhuluma ngezinto ababezibonile nababezizwile. Abafundi bakaJesu bathandaza: “Jehova, naka izinsongo zabo, futhi unike izigqila zakho ukuba ziqhubeke zikhuluma izwi lakho ngaso sonke isibindi.” (IzEnzo 4:29) UJehova wakuphendula ukunxusa kwabo ngokubagcwalisa ngomoya ongcwele nangokubaqinisa ukuze baqhubeke nokumemezela kwabo ngokungesabi. Ngokushesha abaphostoli baphinde bayalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, kodwa uPetru nabanye abaphostoli baphendula: “Kumelwe silalele uNkulunkulu njengombusi kunabantu.” (IzEnzo 5:29) Izinsongo, ukuboshwa, nokubhaxabulwa akukwazanga ukubavimbela ukuba bandise umsebenzi wabo woMbuso.

15. Wayengubani uGamaliyeli, futhi yisiphi iseluleko asinika abaphikisi babalandeli bakaJesu ababengabenkolo?

¹⁵ Basabela kanjani ababusi benkolo? “Bazizwa behlabeke kakhulu futhi babefuna ukubabulala [abaphostoli].” Nokho, kwakukhona lapho umfundisi woMthetho ogama lakhe linguGamaliyeli, umFarisi, owayehlonishwa ngabantu bonke. Ekhiphela abaphostoli ngaphandle kwehholo leSanhedrini okwesikhashana, weluleka labo baphikisi benkolo: “Madoda akwa-Israyeli, zinakeni ngokuqondene nalokho enihlose ukukwenza ngokuqondene nalababantu. . . . Ngithi kini, Ningabaphazamisi lababantu, kodwa bayekeni; (ngoba uma leliqhinga noma lomsebenzi uvela kubantu, uyogumbuqelwa; kodwa uma uvela kuNkulunkulu, ngeke nikwazi ukubagumbuqela;) uma kungenjalo, mhlawumbe, ningatholakala empeleni ningabantu abalwa noNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 5:33-39.

Akukho Sikhali Sokulwa Nathi Esiyophumelela

16. Ungasibeka kanjani ngamazwi akho isiqinisekiso uJehova asinika abantu bakhe?

¹⁶ Iseluleko sikaGamaliyeli sasihluzekile, futhi lapho abantu besikhulumela siyakwazisa lokho. Siyavuma futhi ukuthi inkululeko yokukhulekela iye yasekelwa ngezinqumo zezinkantolo eziye zakhishwa amajaji angachemile. Yiqiniso, ukunamathela kwethu eZwini likaNkulunkulu akubathokozisi abefundisi beLobukholwa nabanye abaholi beBabiloni Elikhulu, umbuso wezwe wenkolo yamanga. (IsAmbulo 18:1-3) Nakuba bona nalabo abathonywe yibo belwa nathi, sinalesi siqinisekiso: “Asikho isikhali esenzelwa wena esiyakuphumelela, nalo lonke ulimi olukuvukelayo luyakwahlulelwa; lokhu kuyifa lezinceku zikaJehova nokulunga kwazo okuvela kimi, usho uJehova.”—Isaya 54:17.

17. Nakuba abaphikisi belwa nathi, kungani sinesibindi?

¹⁷ Izitha zethu zilwa nathi ngaphandle kwesizathu, kodwa asingenwa amanzi emadolweni. (IHubo 109:1-3) Asisoze sabavumela labo abazonda umyalezo wethu weBhayibheli ukuba basesabise size siyekethise okholweni lwethu. Nakuba silindele ukuba impi yethu engokomoya ishube nakakhulu, siyawazi umphumela. NjengoJeremiya, siyobona ukugcwaliseka kwala mazwi angokwesiprofetho: “‘Bayakulwa nawe, kepha abayikukwahlula, ngokuba nginawe,’ usho uJehova, ‘ukuba ngikophule.’” (Jeremiya 1:19) Yebo, siyazi ukuthi abalwa noNkulunkulu ngeke banqobe!

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Kungani izinceku zikaJehova ziye zahlaselwa?

• Yiziphi izindlela abaphikisi abaye balwa ngazo nabantu bakaJehova?

• Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi abalwa noNkulunkulu ngeke banqobe?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

UJeremiya waqinisekiswa ukuthi uJehova wayeyokuba naye

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Abasinda emakamu okuhlushwa

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Izixuku zihlasela oFakazi BakaJehova

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

UJ. F. Rutherford nayebambisene nabo

[Isithombe ekhasini 21]

Ecaleni likaJesu, abalwa noNkulunkulu abazange banqobe