Ithemba Elikhulu

Isahluko 4—Ukuphila Kwaphakade

USathane, owayefake umoya wohlubuko ezulwini, wafuna ukuthi abantu basemhlabeni bahlangane naye ukulwa nolMkulunkulu. U Adamu noEva babehlezi ngenjabulo ephelele besahlonipha umthetho kaNkulunkulu—okuphikisana nokwashiwo nguSathane ezulwini uma ethi umthetho kaNkulunkulu ufaka ingcindezi. Usathane wazimisela ukubawisa ukuze azithathele umhlaba, amise umbuso wakhe ozophikisana noPhezukonke. IE 40.1

U Adamu noEva babexwayisiwe ngalesitha esiyingozi, kodwa wasebenza ebumnyameni, efihla inhloso yakhe. Ngokusebenzisa inyoka, eyayiyisidalwa esihle ngalezo zinsuku, wakhuluma noEva ethi: “Ngempela uNkulunkulu ushilo yini ukuthi ningadli emithini yasensimini na?” U Eva wazama ukuqophisana naye, wazithola eseyisisulu sobuqili bakhe: “Owesifazane wathi enyokeni: Singadla izithelo zemithi yasensimini, kepha ngezithelo zomuthi ophakathi nensimu uNkulunkulu ushilo ukuthi: Ningazidli, ningazithinti ukuba ningafi. Inyoka yathi kowesifazane: Aniyikufa nokufa; kepha uNkulunkulu uyazi ukuthi mhla nizidla, kuyakuvuleka amehlo enu, nibe njengoNkulunkulu, nikwazi okuhle nokubi,” (Genesise 3:1-5). IE 40.2

U Eva wawa, nangomthelela wakhe, uAdamu wenza isono. Bakholwa amazwi enyoka; abamethembanga uMdali wabo, babona ukuthi ubancisha inkululeko. IE 41.1

Kodwa uAdamu wawathola ukuthi asho ukuthini lamazwi athi “Mhla udla kuwo uyakufa nokufa”? Ngabe wayesezongena ezingeni lokuphila okuphakeme? U Adamu akawatholanga esho lokho lawo mazwi ayisigwebo. UNkulunkulu wathi umphumela wesono sakhe uyobonakala ngokuthi umuntu abuyele othulini lomhlaba: “Ngokuba ungumhlabathi, uyakuphenduka umhlabathi,” Genesise 3:19. Amazwi kaSathane athi: “Amehlo enu azovuleka,” ayeyiqiniso ngalokhu kuphela: amehlo abo avuleka, babona ubuwula babo. Bakwazi okubi, bawuzwa umphumela obabayo wokweqa umthetho. IE 41.2

Umuthi wokuphila wawunamandla okuqhubekisa impilo. U Adamu wayezoqhubeka nokuba nelungelo lokudla izithelo zalomuthi aphile ngunaphakade, kodwa ngokona kwakhe, walahlekelwa yilelo lungelo, kwangena ukufa. Ukungafi kwalahleka ngenxa yesono. Lalingeke libe khona ithemba ngabantu abawile ukuba uNkulunkulu wayengayenzanga indlela yokuphila kwaphakade ngeNdodana yaKhe. Noma nje “Ukufa kwafikela abantu bonke, lokhu bonke bonile,” “UKristu Jesu, owachitha ukufa, walethela ekukhanyeni ukuphila nokungabhubhi ngevangeli.” Ukungafi kutholakala kuphela ngoKristu. “Okholwa yiNdodana unokuphila okuphakade; kepha ongakholwa yiNdodana kayikubona ukuphila,” (amaRoma 5:12; 2 Thimothewu 1:10; Johane 3:36). IE 41.3