Abaprofeti Nookumkani

22—“INineve, Eso Sixeko Sikhulu”

Phakathi kwezixeko zehlabathi lakudala ngemihla kaIsrayeli owayohlukene, esinye sezona zikhulu yayiyiNineve, isixeko esinguNdlunkulu wobukumkani beSiriya. Yakhiwe kwiindonga ezichumayo zomlambo iTigris, kanye emva kwenkcithakalo yokusuka kwiNqaba yeBhabheli, yakhula kuzo zonke iinkulungwane yada yaba “ngumzi omkhulu [kuThixo], iluhambo lweentsuku ezintathu.” Yona 3:3. AN 265.1

Ngexesha lempumelelo yalo eli lizwe, iNiveve yayiliziko lolwaphulo mthetho nenkohlakalo. Impefumlelo iyiveza njengesixeko esasingumzi “wamagazi! Uzele kwaphela luhanahaniso nakukudlavula.” Ngolwimi olufuziselayo, umprofeti uNahum ubafanekisa abantu baseNineve nengonyama ekhohlakeleyo, eqwengayo. “Ngubani na” uyabuza, “ezingadlulanga phezu kwakhe izinto zakho ezimbi ngamaxesha onke?” Nahum 3:1, 19. AN 265.2

Kanti ke, seyikhohlakele injalo, iNineve yayingazinikelwanga ngokupheleleyo ebubini. Lowo “[u]babona bonke oonyana babantu” (Indumiso 33:13), “[u]bona zonke izinto ezinqabileyo” (Yobhi 28:10), wabona kweso sixeko abaninzi ababezama ukufikelela kokungcono nokuphezulu, nababeya kuthi, xa belifumene ithuba lokufunda ngoThixo ophilayo, bazishiye izenzo ezigwenxa banqule Yena. Ngenxa yoko, ngobulumko baKhe, wazityhila kubo ngendlela engenakuphazanywa, ukuba abakhokelele enguqukweni, ukuba kunokwenzeka. AN 266.1

Isixhobo awasinyulela lo msebenzi yayingumprofeti uYona, unyana ka-Amitayi. Kwaya kwafika ilizwi likaYehova kuye, lisithi, “Suk” ume, uye eNineve, kuloo mzi mkhulu, umemeze ngawo; kuba indawo zawo ezimbi zinyukile, zeza phambi kwaM.” Yona 1:1, 2. AN 266.2

Wathi umprofeti akucinga ngeenzima nokubonakala ngokungathi akungekhe kwenzeke oku akuthunyiweyo, walingeka ukuba abuthandabuze ubulumko bolu bizo. Ngokokubona komntu, kwakungathi akukho nto inokuzuzwa ngokuvakalisa isigidimi esinje kwisixeko esinjalo ukuziphakamisa. Walibala ngokwelo xesha ukuba uThixo awayemkhonza unobulumko bonke namandla onke. Wathi esathingaza, esathandabuza, uSathana wamongamela ngokumtyhafisa. Umprofeti wathiwa hlasi kukoyika okukhulu, “wesuka . . . ebalekela eTarshishe.” Waya eYafo, wafumana khona inqanawa elungele ukuhamba “wayirhola ingqesho yayo, wehla, wangena kuyo, ukuze aye nabo [eTarshishe]” Indima 3. AN 266.3

Kumyalelo awayewunikiwe, uYona wayephathiswe umthwalo onzima; kanti ke Lowo wayemyalele ukuba ahambe, wayenakho ukumxhasa umkhonzi waKhe amnike impumelelo. Ukuba umprofeti wayethobele engathandabuzi, wayeya kusindiswa ekuhlanganeni neenkathazo ezininzi nezimbi, kwaye wayeya kusikelelwa kakhulu. Kanti ke, nakwiyure yokuphelelwa lithemba kukaYona,uYehova akazange amshiye. Ngenxa Yodederhu lwezilingo nokubonelela kukaThixo okungaqhelekanga, kwakuza kuvuseleleka ukmuthemba kukamprofeti uThixo namandla waKhe. AN 266.4

Ukuba uYona, kwasekuqaleni kokubizwa kwakhe, wayekhe wathi nqumama wacinga ezolile, ngewabazi ukuba babuya kuba bubudenge obungakanani nawuphi umzamo wokulubaleka uxanduva olubekwe phezu kwakhe. Akazange ke noko avunyelwe ukuba aqhubeke engaphazanyiswanga ekusabeni kwakhe okuphambeneyo. “Ke uYehova wagalelekisa umoya omkhulu elwandle; kwabakho umoya omkhulu ovuthuzayo elwandle, inqanawa leyo yanga iza kwaphuka. Boyika oomatiloshe, bakhala elowo kuthixo wakhe; bayijulela elwandle impahla ebisenqanaweni, ukuziphungulela bona. UYona ke wayehle waya ezantsi enqanaweni, wasindwa bubuthongo walala.” Iindima 4, 5. AN 267.1

Bathi ngeli xesha oomatiloshe bekhunga befuna uncedo koothixo babo bobuhedeni, umphathi wenqanawa, ekhathazeke ngaphaya komlinganiselo, wagqogqa wafumana uYona, wathi, “Wenzani na, thongorhandini? Vuka, ubize kuThixo wakho; mhlawumbi uThixo angasikhumbula, singabhubhi.” Indima 6. AN 267.2

Ngelishwa, imithandazo yendoda eyashiyayo indlela yomsebenzi wayo, ayizange izise luncedo. Oomatiloshe befikelwa yingcamango yokuba, inkohlakalo engaqhelekanga yoqhwithelo olukhulu yayingumqondiso wengqumbo yoothixo, ekugqibeleni babhenela ekwenzeni amaqashiso, “[ukuze] “sazi,” batsho, “ukuba kungenxa kabani na ukuba sibe nobu bubi. Benza amaqashiso, iqashiso laphuma noYona. Bathi kuye, Khawusixelele, kungenxa kabani na ukuba sibe nobu bubi? Uyintoni na umsebenzi wakho? Uvela phi na? Liphi na ilizwe lakowenu? Ungowabaphi na abantu? AN 267.3

“Wathi kubo, NdingumHebhere; ndiyamoyika uYehova, uThixo wamazulu, owenza ulwandle, nomhlaba lo womileyo. AN 268.1

“Oyika amadoda lawo ngoloyiko olukhulu, athi kuye, Yintoni na le uyenzileyo? Ngokuba amadoda lawo ayesazi ukuba ubaleka emka ebusweni bukaYehova; kuba wayewaxelele. AN 268.2

“Athi kuye, Masenze ntoni na kuwe, ukuze ulwandle ludambe, lusiyeke? Kuba ulwandle belusiya lusilwa. Wathi kuwo, Ndifunquleni, nindijulele elwandle, ludambe ulwandle, luniyeke; kuba ndiyazi, ukuba lo moya, mkhulu uvuthuzayo, uphezu kwenu, ungenxa yam. AN 268.3

“Atyhudisa emazeni amadoda, ezama ukuyibuyisela emhlabeni owomileyo inqanawa; akhohlwa, kuba ulwandle lwaya lusilwa phezu kwawo ngeenxa zonke. Anqula uYehova, athi, Gxebe, Yehova, masingafi ngomphefumlo wale ndoda, ungalibeki phezu kwethu igazi elimsulwa; ngokuba wena, Yehova, wenze ngokuthanda kwakho. Amfunqula ke uYona, amjulela elwandle; lwazola ulwandle, lwakuyeka ukujala kwalo. Amadoda amoyika uYehova ngoloyiko olukhulu, abingelela kuYehova umbingelelo, abhambathisa izibhambathiso. AN 268.4

“UYehova wamisela intlanzi enkulu ukuba imginye uYona. UYona waba sembilinini wentlanzi iimini ezintathu nobusuku obuthathu. AN 268.5

“UYona wathandaza kuYehova uThixo wakhe embilinini wentlanzi, wathi: AN 268.6

“Ndakhala kuYehova ndisembandezelweni,
Wandiphendula;
Ndazibika ndisesiswini selabafileyo,
Waliva wena ilizwi lam.
“Ngokuba wawundiphosa enzulwini,
Embilinini yeelwandle, Umlambo waba ngeenxa zonke kum;
Adlula phezu kwam onke amaza akho alwayo,
Namaza akho agugumayo.

“Ndathi ke mna, Ndigxothiwe
phambi kwamehlo akho;
Noko ke ndiya kubuya ndibheke
etempileni yakho engcwele.
Andirhawula amanzi,
ada eza emphefumlweni;

“Andijikeleza amanzi enzonzobila;
Ingca yolwandle yayithi jize intloko yam.
Ndehla ndaya ezikhondweni zeentaba;
Lona ihlabathi, imivalo yalo
yandivalela ngonaphakade;

“Wasuka wabunyusa emhadini ubomi bam,
Yehova Thixo wam.
Ekutyhafeni komphefumlo wam
ngaphakathi kwam
Ndakhumbula uYehova;
Wafika kuwe umthandazo wam
Etempileni yakho engcwele.

“Abagcine amampunge angento yanto
bashiya inceba yabo
Ke mna ndiya kubingelela kuwe
ndinezwi lokubulela;
Endakubhambathisayo ndiya kukuzalisa.
Usindiso lukuYehova.” AN 268.7

Indima 7-2:9.

Ekugqibeleni uYona wafunda ukuba “usindiso lolukaYehova.” Indumiso 3:8. Wathi ngokuguquka nokuluvuma ubabalo lukaThixo olusindisayo, kwabakho ukuhlangulwa. UYona wahlangulwa kwiingozi zolwandle olunzulu walahlelwa ngaphandle kumhlaba owomileyo. AN 269.1

Waphinda wayalelwa umkhonzi kaThixo ukuba alumkise iNineve. “Kwafika ilizwi likaYehova kuYona okwesibini, lisithi, Suk’ ume, uye eNineve, kulo mzi mkhulu, umemeze ngawo umemezo endithetha lona kuwe.” Ngeli xesha akazange abe ebuza okanye ethandabuza, wathobela engathingazanga. “Wesuka, . . . waya eNineve ngokwelizwi likaYehova.” Yona 3:1-3. AN 269.2

Wangena nje esixekweni, waqala kwangoko “wamemeza” isigidimi, “Zisaya kuba ziintsuku ezimashumi mane, iNineve ibhukuqwe.” Indima 4. Wangena kwisitrato nesitrato evakalisa ilizwi lokulumkisa. AN 270.1

Isigidimi asizange sibe lilize. Isimemo esavakala kwizitrato zesixeko esingamoyikiyo uThixo sadluliselwa ngokuxelelana bada bonke abemi baba basivile isaziso esothusayo. UMoya kaThixo wasifaka ngamandla isigidimi kuzo zonke iintliziyo nto leyo eyenza ukuba izihlwele zingcangcazele ngenxa yezono zazo zaza zaguquka ngokuzithoba okukhulu. AN 270.2

“Amadoda aseNineve akholwa kuThixo, amema uzilo, ambatha ezirhwexayo, ethabathela kwabakhulu bawo, esa kwabancinane bawo. Lafika ilizwi elo kukumkani waseNineve; wesuka etroneni yakhe, wayisusa wayibeka phantsi ingubo yakhe ende, wazigubungela ngezirhwexayo, wahlala phantsi eluthuthwini. Wathi, makudandulukwe kutshiwo eNineve ngomthetho wokumkani nezikhulu zakhe, ukuthi: Umntu nempahla enkulu, iinkomo nempahla emfutshane, mazingevi nto; mazingadli, mazingaseli namanzi; maze azigubungele ngezirhwexayo umntu nempahla enkulu, akhale kuThixo ngokunamandla, abuye elowo endleleni yakhe embi, elugonyamelweni olusezandleni zakhe. Ngubani na owaziyo ukuba akangebuyi kanti azohlwaye uThixo, abuye ekuvutheni komsindo wakhe, ukuze singabhubhi?” Iindima 5-9. AN 270.3

Wathi ukumkani namadoda amakhulu, nabantu, abaphakamileyo nabaphantsi, bonke baku“guquka . . . ngomemezo lukaYona” (Mateyu 12:41), bamanyana ekukhaleni kuThixo wasezulwini, wabanika [uThixo] inceba yaKhe. “UThixo wazibona izenzo zabo, ukuba babuyile ezindleleni zabo ezimbi; uThixo wazohlwaya ngenxa yobubi abethe uya kubenza kubo; akabenza.” Yona 3:10. Intshabalalo yabo yajikwa, uThixo kaIsrayeli waphakanyiswa wazukiswa kulo lonke ilizwe lobuhedeni, waza wahlonitshwa umthetho waKhe. Kwada kwaba yiminyaka emininzi kamva ekwathi iNineve yaba lixhoba lezizwe eziyijikelezileyo ngenxa yokulibala uThixo nangenxa yokuzibabaza ngekratshi. [Ingxelo engokuwa kweAsiriya (iNineve) yifumane kwiSahluko sama-30.] AN 271.1

Akuba uYona eyazile injongo kaThixo yokusisindisa isixeko esathi, nangona sasikhohlakele, sakhokelelwa ekubeni siguquke ngezirhwexayo nothuthu, wayemele ukuba ungowokuqala ukuvuya ngenxa yobabalo lukaThixo olumangalisayo; kodwa, endaweni yoko, wasuka wavumela ingqondo yakhe ukuba igxile phezu kokuba, kunokwenzeka ukuba yena abonwe njengomprofeti wobuxoki. Ngenxa yekhwele ngegama lakhe, walahlekwa ngumbono wexabiso elikhulu ngokungenawo umlinganiselo wemiphefumlo ekweso sixeko silusizi. Imfesane eyabonakalaliswa nguThixo kubantu baseNineve abaguqukayo yenza “kwaba kubi kuYona kakhulu, wavutha ngumsindo.” “Labe lingelilo na ilizwi lam eli,” wabuza kuYehova, “ndisesemhlabeni wakowethu? Ngenxa yoko, ndaphanga ngokubalekela eTarshishe; ngokuba ndandisazi ukuba unguThixo obabalayo, onemfesane, ozeka kade umsindo, onenceba enkulu, ozohlwayayo ngenxa yobubi.” Yona 4:1, 2. AN 271.2

Waphinda waziyekela ekubuzeni nasekuthandabuzeni, waphinda kwakhona wagutyungelwa kukutyhafa. Elahlekwe ngumbono wokuba nomdla kwabanye, nokuziva engathi ufanelwe kukufa endaweni yokuphila ukuze abone isixeko sisindiswa, ekunganelisekini kwakhe, wadanduluka, “Ke ngoku, Yehova, seluwuthabatha umphefumlo wam kum, kuba ukufa kum kulungile kunokuba ndidle ubomi.” AN 271.3

“Uyalungisa na ukuthi oku, uvuthe ngumsindo?” wabuza uYehova. “Waphuma ke uYona kuwo umzi, wahlala ngasempumalanga kuwo umzi, wazenzela khona umnquba; wahlala ngaphantsi kwawo emthunzini, ukuze ade abone ukuba kuya kuthekani na kuwo umzi. UYehova uThixo wammisela umhlavuthwa; waphuma, wenyuka waba phezu koYona, ukuba ube ngumthunzi entlokweni yakhe, umhlangule ebubini bakhe. Wawuvuyela uYona umhlavuthwa lowo, wawuvuyela kakhulu.” Iindima 3-6. AN 272.1

UYehova wamnika uYona isifundo ngomzekeliso. “Kambe ke ekuseni ngengomso uThixo wawuthumela ngombungu loo mthi, wawugrenya watsho wabuna. Lithe ke lakuphuma ilanga uThixo wathumela umoya wasempuma onolophu, laza lanqanqaza ilanga phezu kwentloko kaJona. Kwanzima kuye; phantse wayoba. Watsho wanqwenela ukufa, wathi: ‘Kungcono ukuba ndife kunokuba ndidle ubomi’” [IBHAYIBHILE]. AN 272.2

Kwakhona uThixo wathetha nomprofeti waKhe, “Uyalungisa na ukuthi oku, uvuthe ngumsindo ngenxa yomhlavuthwa?” Wathi yena, “Ndiyalungisa ukuthi ndivuthe ngumsindo kude kuse ekufeni.” AN 272.3

Wathi uThixo, Wena unenceba ngomhlavuthwa, ongabulalekanga nguwo, ongawuhlumisanga, okhule ngobusuku, wadaka ngobusuku; ndingabi nanceba na ke mna ngenxa yeNineve, loo mzi mkhulu, unabantu abangaphezu kwekhulu elinamanci mabini amawaka, abangakwaziyo ukunene kwabo kwikhohlo labo; kwanempahla enkulu eninzi?” Iindima 7-11. AN 272.4

Edidekile, ethotyelwe phantsi, engakwazi nokuyiqonda injongo kaThixo ngokuyisindisa iNineve, uYona phofu, wakufezekisa awakuthunywayo, ukulumkisa isixeko esikhulu; kanti ke, nangona eso siganeko sasixelwe ngenx’ engaphambili singazange senzeke, sona isigidimi sokulumkisa sasivela kuThixo. Isigidimi eso sayifeza injongo awayesilungisele yona uThixo. Uzuko lobabalo lwaKhe lwatyhilwa phakathi kwabangakholwayo. Abo babekade behleli “emnyameni nasethunzini lokufa, bekhonkxwe yimbandezelo nasisinyithi,” “bakhala ke kuYehova embandezelweni yabo; wabasindisa ekucuthekeni kwabo. Wabakhupha emnyameni nasethunzini lokufa, waziqhawula iimbophelelo zabo.” “Wathumela ilizwi lakhe wabaphilisa, wabasiza ezihogweni zabo.” Indumiso 107:10, 13, 14, 20.[273] AN 273.1

UKristu, ngexesha lokusebenza kwaKhe emhlabeni, wathetha ngokulungileyo okwenziwa kukushumayela kukaYona eNineve,wathelekisa abemi baloo ngingqi yobuhedeni nabantu ababezibiza ngoThixo bemihla yaKhe. “Amadoda aseNineve,” watsho, “aya kusuka eme ngomgwebo nesi sizukulwana, asigwebe; ngokuba aguquka wona ngomemezelo lukaYona; ke omkhulu kunoYona nanku apha.” Mateyu 12:40, 41. Kwilizwe elixakekileyo, elizaliswe yingxolo yorhwebo nempikiswano yoshishino, apho abantu bazama ukutsalela kubo konke oko banakho, uKristu wafika; kwathi ngaphezu kwaso sonke eso siphithi-phithi, ilizwi laKhe, njengexilongo likaThixo, lavakala: “Komnceda ntoni na umntu, ukuba uthe walizuza ihlabathi liphela, waza wonakalelwa ngumphefumlo wakhe? Okanye worhola ntoni na umntu, ibe sisananelo somphefumlo wakhe?” Marko 8:36, 37. AN 273.2

Njengoko ukushumayela kukaYona kwakungumqondiso kubantu baseNineve, ngokunjalo, nokushumayela kukaKristu kwakungumqondiso kwisizukulwana saKhe. Sekunjalo, ungakanani wona umahluko! Kanti ke, kwathi sekukho konke ukungakhathali nokugculela, uMsindisi esebenza nzima, wada wawufeza umsebenzi awayewuthunyiwe. AN 274.1

Isifundo siza kubathunywa bakaThixo namhlanje, xa izixeko zezizwe zinentswelo ngokwenene yolwazi lweempawu ngeenjongo zikaThixo wenyaniso njengoko babe njalo abantu beNineve yakudala. Abameli bakaKristu kufuneka balathise abantu kwilizwe elibaluleke ngaphezulu, elingasabonwa kakuhle. Ngokwemfundiso yeziBhalo eziNgcwele, umzi ekuphela kwawo oya kuma ngulowo omakhi wawo nengcibi yawo inguThixo. Ngokusebenza kwabakhonzi beNkosi, uYesu ubiza abantu ukuba bazame ngenjongo engcwalisiweyo ukuzuza ilifa elingenakufa. Ukhuthaza ukuba baziqwebele ubutyebi ngakwitrone kaThixo. AN 274.2

Kuza ngokukhawuleza nangokuqinisekileyo ubutyala, phantse bezwe lonke, kubahlali kwezi zixeko, ngenxa yokukhula okuthe ngcembe nokuzimiseleyo kwenkohlakalo. Ukonakala okugqubayo kungaphezu kwamandla osiba lomntu ukukuchaza. Imini nganye izisa isityhilelo esitsha sembambano, ukunyoba, nobumenemene; Imini nganye izisa ingxelo yempatho-mbi nolwaphulo lomthetho olwaphula intliziyo, ukungakhathalelwa kokubulaleka kwabantu, nokutshatyalaliswa kobomi babantu ngendlela yobulwanyana ekhohlakeleyo. Imini nganye ingqina ngokwanda kwempambano, ukubulala, nokuzibulala. AN 275.1

Kwizizukulwana ngezizukulwana uSathana uzame ukubagcina abantu ekungazini ngokuceba kukaYehova okunobubele. Uzame ukususa phambi kwabo izinto ezinkulu zomthetho kaThixo—imithetho-sisekelo yobulungisa, nothando olubekwe phambili kuwo. Abantu baqhayisa ngenkqubela emangalisayo nokukhanya kweli xesha esiphila kulo ngoku; kodwa uThixo uwubona umhlaba uzaliswe bubugwenxa nenkohlakalo. Abantu bavakalisa ukuba umthetho kaThixo wacinywa, nokuba iBhayibhile ayiyonyaniso; kangangokuba isiphumo soko, umsinga wobubi, obungazange babonwa kususela kwimihla kaNowa nekaIsrayeli owayekreqile, buyatshayela phezu komhlaba. Isidima somphefumlo, ubulali, ubungcwele, zizinto ekutshintshiswa ngazo ukwaneza inkanuko yezinto ezalelweyo. Ingxelo emnyama yolwaphulo-mthetho olwenziwayo ngenxa yenzuzo yanele ukubandisa igazi nokuwuzalisa umphefumlo ngoloyiko. AN 275.2

UThixo wethu unguThixo onenceba. Ngokunyamezela nemfesane enothando, uphatha abagqitha umthetho waKhe. Kanti ke, ngale mihla yethu, xa amadoda nabafazi benamathuba amaninzi kangaka okuqhelana nomthetho wezulu njengoko utyhiliwe eBhayibhileni, uMlawuli omkhulu wezwe lonke akakwazi ukuzikhangela ngokukholiseka nakanjani izixeko ezikhohlakeleyo, apho kulawula inkohlakalo nolwaphulo-mthetho. Isiphelo sokunyamezela kukaThixo abo bazingisa ekungathobelini siza kufika ngokukhawuleza. AN 275.3

Ingaba bafanele ukumangaliswa na yinguquko ekhawulezayo nengalindelekanga ekuphatheni koMlawuli oMkhulu abemi belizwe eliwileyo? Ingaba bafanele ukumangaliswa na xa ukohlwaya kulandela isikreqo nokwanda kokwaphulwa komthetho? Ingaba bafanele ukumangaliswa na yinto yokuba uThixo eza kuzisa intshabalalo nokufa phezu kwabo banobutyebi obuzuzwe ngendlela engeyiyo ngenkohliso nobuqhetseba? Nangona ukukhanya okwandayo ngokubhekiselele kokufunwa nguThixo kuhleli kukhanya endleleni yabo, abaninzi bakwalile ukukuvuma ukulawula kukaYehova, basuka bakhetha ukuba bahlale phantsi kwebhanile yobumnyama yomqali walo lonke uvukelo ngakulawulo lwezulu. AN 276.1

Ukunyamezela kukaThixo kube kukukhulu kakhulu—kwakukhulu kangangokuba, xa sicinga ngokuqhubeka kokugculelwa kwemithetho yaKhe engcwele, siyamangaliswa. Onamandla onke ube efake uxinzelelo lwamandla okuzibamba ukuba angenzi ngokweempawu zaKhe. Ngokuqinisekileyo, uya kusuka eme ukuba abohlwaye abakhohlakeleyo, abawadelela kakhulu amabango aKhe efanelekileyo emiThetho eliShumi. AN 276.2

UThixo unika abantu ixesha lenceba; kodwa kukho umda othi umonde wezulu uphele ungadluli kuwo, apho izohlwayo zikaThixo ziqinisekileyo ukuba ziya kulandela. UYehova ubanyamezela ithuba elide abantu, nezixeko, enika ngenceba izilumkiso zokubasindisa kwingqumbo yezulu; kodwa liya kufika ixesha xa ukubongozela inceba kungasayi kuba saviwa, bathi nabantu bovukelo abaqhubeka nokwala ukukhanya kwenyaniso bacinywe baphele, ngokubenzela inceba bona kunye nabo baya kuba bephenjelelwe ngumzekelo wabo. AN 276.3

Ixesha lifikile xa kuya kubakho usizi elizweni nekungekho mathunga womntu unokuluphilisa. UMoya kaThixo uyatsalwa. Iintlekele elwandle nasemhlabeni zilandelelana ngokukhawuleza. Kuphikelana kangakanani sisiva ngeenyikima neenkanyamba, ngentshabalalo ngomlilo nesikhukhula, ngokulahleka okukhulu kwemiphefumlo neempahla! Kubonakala ngokungathi ezintlekele bubukho nje bokuguquguquka kwamandla endalo aphazamisekileyo nangalawulekanga, athi ngokupheleleyo abe ngaphaya kokulawulwa ngumntu; kodwa kuko konke, inako ukufundeka injongo kaThixo. Ziphakathi kwezenzeleli athi ngazo afune ukuvusa amadoda nabafazi ukuba baqaphele ingozi abakuyo. AN 277.1

Abathunywa bakaThixo kwizixeko ezikhulu akufuneki batyhafiswe yinkohlakalo, ukungabikho kobulungisa, ukuhlupheka, ababizwe ukuba bajongane nabo lo gama bezama ukuvakalisa iindaba zovuyo zosindiso. INkosi iya kumvuyisa wonke umsebenzi onjalo ngesigidimi esifanayo neso yasinika umpostile uPawulos kwiKorinte ekhohlakeleyo: “Musa ukoyika, thetha ungathi tu; ngokokuba mna ndinawe, kanjalo akukho namnye uya kukusa sandla, akuphathe kakubi; ngokokuba ndinabantu abaninzi kulo mzi.” Izenzo 18:9, 10. Abo baxakeke emsebenzini wokusindisa imiphefumlo mabakhumbule ukuba, nangona bebaninzi abangayi kulithobela icebiso likaThixo elizwini laKhe, asinguwo wonke umhlaba oya kumka ekukhanyeni nasenyanisweni, kwizimemo zoMsindisi onomonde nononyamezelo. Kwisixeko ngasinye, nangona sizaliswe lugonyamelo nolwaphulo-mthetho, baninzi abathi, ngokufundiswa ngendlela eyiyo, bafunde ukuba ngabalandeli bakaYesu. Amawaka asenokufikelelwa ngaloo ndlela ngenyaniso esindisayo baze bakhokelelwe ekwamkeleni uKristu njengoMsindisi wabo. AN 277.2

Isigidimi sikaThixo kubemi bomhlaba namhlanje sithi, “Yibani nilungile nani, ngokuba uNyana woMntu uza ngelixa eningalikhumbuleliyo.” Mateyu 24:44. Iimeko ezigqubayo ekuhlaleni, ngakumbi kwizixeko ezikhulu zezizwe, zivakalisa ngezandi zendudumo ukuba iyure yokugweba kukaThixo ifikile nokuba isiphelo sezinto zonke zasemhlabeni sikufuphi. Simi emgubasini weyona ntlekele kwizizukulwana. Ngokulandelelana okukhawulezileyo, izigwebo zikaThixo ziza kulandelelana esinye emva kwesinye—umlilo, isikhukhula, inyikima, imfazwe nokuphalala kwegazi. Asimele kumangaliswa ngeli xesha ziziganeko ezikhulu nezipheleleyo; kuba ingelosi yenceba ayikwazi ukuhlala ixesha elide ikhusela abantu abangaguqukiyo. AN 278.1

“Yabona, uYehova uphuma endaweni yakhe, ukuze abuvelele kubo ubugwenxa babemi behlabathi; ihlabathi lowatyhila amagazi alo, lingabi sabaselela ababuleweyo balo.” Isaya 26:21. Uqhwithela lwengqumbo kaThixo luyaqokelelana; kwaye abo baya kuma kuphela ngabo basabelayo kwizimemo zenceba, njengoko benzayo abemi baseNineve phantsi kokushumayela kukaYona, baze bangcwaliswe ngokuthobela imithetho yoMlawuli Ongcwele. Ngamalungisa kuphela aya kufihlwa noKristu kuThixo kude kudlule ukuphanziswa. Intetho yomphefumlo mayibe yethi: AN 278.2

“Andinaso esinye
Isikhuselo Yesu;
Ungandishiyi ndedwa,
Uze undincede mna.

“Ndifihle O Nkosi yam,
Ndisithe Msindisi wam,
Ekupheleni Nkosi,
Yamkela umoya wam!” AN 278.3