Abantu abaningi bakholwa ukuthi ukuqonda nokukwazi ukuchaza iBhayibheli kufana nokuthola indlela yeqiniso—kodwa empeleni, Ingabe izinto zicace kanjalo ngempela? Akekho owazi iqiniso leBhayibheli: ukuthi aliyilutho oludlula umbhalo womlando ngomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kanye nobufakazi bezigaba ezimbili zomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu zaphambilini, futhi alikuniki ukuqonda izinhloso zomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Wonke umuntu oke walifunda iBhayibheli uyazi ukuthi likhuluma ngezigaba ezimbili zomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi seNkathi Yomthetho kanye neNkathi Yomusa. ITestamente Elidala lilanda umlando ka-Israyeli kanye nomsebenzi kaJehova kusukela ngesikhathi sokudala kuze kube sekugcineni kweNkathi Yomthetho. ITestamente Elisha likhuluma ngomsebenzi kaJesu emhlabeni, osemaVangelini Amane, kanye nomsebenzi kaPawulu; akuyona yini imibhalo yomlando? Ukuletha izinto zakudala namuhla kuzenza umlando, futhi akukhathaleki ukuthi ziyiqiniso noma zingokoqobo kangakanani, zisewumlando—futhi umlando awukwazi ukubhekana nesikhathi samanje. Ngoba uNkulunkulu akabheki emuva emlandweni! Ngakho, uma uqonda iBhayibheli kuphela, futhi ungaqondi lutho ngomsebenzi uNkulunkulu aqonde ukuwenza namuhla, futhi uma ukholwa kuNkulunkulu kodwa ungawushisekeli umsebenzi woMoya oNgcwele, ngakho awuqondi ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukufuna uNkulunkulu. Uma ufunda iBhayibheli ukuze ufundisise umlando wakwa-Israyeli, ukucwaninga umlando wokudala kukaNkulunkulu amazulu nomhlaba, awukholwa kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa, namuhla, njengoba ukholwa kuNkulunkulu, futhi ushisekela ufuna ukuphila, njengoba ushisekela ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu, futhi ungazishisekeli amagama nezimfundiso ezifile, noma ukuqonda umlando, kufanele ufune intando kaNkulunkulu wanamhlanje, futhi kufanele ufune ukuqondisa komsebenzi woMoya oNgcwele. Uma ubungumphenyi wezinto zasendulo ubungalifunda iBhayibheli—kodwa awuyena, ungomunye walabo abakholwa kuNkulunkulu, futhi kungcono ukumane ufune intando kaNkulunkulu wanamhlanje. Ngokufunda iBhayibheli, ozokuthola ngeke kudlule ekutheni uyoqonda kancane ngomlando wakwa-Israyeli, uyofunda ngezimpilo zika-Abrahama, uDavide, kanye noMose, uyothola ukuthi babemazisa kakhulu kangakanani uJehova, ukuthi uJehova wayebashisa kanjani labo ababemelana Naye, nokuthi Yena wayekhuluma kanjani kubantu bangaleyo nkathi. Uzothola ulwazi ngomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu wakudala kuphela. Imibhalo yeBhayibheli imayelana nokuthi abantu bakuqala bakwa-Israyeli babemazisa kanjani uNkulunkulu futhi babephila kanjani ngaphansi kokuqondisa kukaJehova. Ngenxa yokuthi abakwa-Israyeli babengabantu abakhethiweyo bakaNkulunkulu, eTestamenteni Elidala uyakwazi ukubona ukwethemba kwabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli kuJehova, nokuthi bonke labo ababemlalela uJehova babenakekelwa futhi bebusiswa kanjani Nguye, ungafunda ukuthi ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esebenza kwa-Israyeli wayegcwele uthando nomusa, kanti futhi wabe enamalangabi aqedayo, nokuthi bonke abakwa-Israyeli, kusukela kwabaphansi kuya kwabanamandla, babemazisa uJehova, ngakho izwe lonke lalibusiswe nguNkulunkulu. Unjalo umlando ka-Israyeli obhalwe eTestamenteni Elidala.

IBhayibheli umbhalo womlando womsebenzi kaNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli, futhi lilandisa ngokuningi ukubikezela kwabaphrofethi basemandulo kanye namanye amazwi kaJehova emsebenzini Wakhe ngaleso sikhathi. Ngakho, bonke abantu bayithatha le ncwadi njengencwadi engcwele (ngoba uNkulunkulu ungcwele futhi mkhulu). Phela, lokhu kungenxa yokuhlonipha kwabo uJehova okukhulu kanye nokumthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu. Abantu babiza le ncwadi ngale ndlela kuphela ngenxa yokuthi izidalwa zikaNkulunkulu zimhlonipha futhi zimthanda kakhulu uMdali wazo, futhi kukhona ngisho labo le ncwadi abayibiza njengencwadi yasezulwini. Empeleni, imane iwumbhalo wabantu. Ayizange iqanjwe igama nguJehova mathupha, futhi uJehova akazange aqondise ukwenziwa kwayo mathupha. Ngamanye amazwi, umbhali wale ncwadi akuyena uNkulunkulu, kodwa abantu. IBhayibheli Elingcwele yigama elinokuhlonipha elinikwe yona ngabantu. Leli gama alizange liqokwe nguJehova noJesu emva kokuthi bekade benengxoxo ndawonye; ayiyilutho ngaphezu kokuba umbono womuntu. Ngoba le ncwadi ayibhalwanga nguJehova, kungasaphathwa uJesu. Kunalokho, iyizindaba ezixoxwa ngabaphrofethi abaningi basendulo, abaphostoli kanye nababoni abaningi basendulo, ezabuthelwa ndawonye yizizukulwane zakamuva ukwenza incwadi yemibhalo yasendulo, kubantu ebonakala sengathi ingcwele kakhulu, incwadi abakholelwa ukuthi inezimfihlakalo ezingeqondwe futhi ezijulile ezilinde ukudalulwa izizukulwane ezizayo. Ngale ndlela, abantu bathanda ngisho ukukholwa ukuthi le ncwadi incwadi yasezulwini. Uma kwengezwa amaVangeli Amane kanye neNcwadi yeSambulo, isimo sengqondo sabantu ngayo sihluke nakakhulu kunanoma iyiphi enye incwadi, ngakho akekho olokothayo ukuhlaziya le “ncwadi yasezulwini”—ngoba “ingcwele” kakhulu.

Kungani, ngokushesha lapho befunda iBhayibheli, abantu bekwazi ukuthola kulo indlela efanele yokulenza? Kungani bekwazi ukuzuza okuningi obekungaqondakali kubo? Namhlanje, ngihlaziya iBhayibheli ngale ndlela futhi akusho ukuthi ngiyalizonda, noma ngiyaphika ukubaluleka kwalo lapho ufuna ukubuyekeza. Ngichaza futhi ngicacisa ukubaluleka kwalo kwemvelo kanye nemvelaphi yeBhayibheli kuwena ukukuvimba ukuthi uhlale emnyameni ungazi. Ngoba abantu banemibono eminingi ngeBhayibheli, futhi eminingi yayo iyiphutha; ukufunda iBhayibheli ngale ndlela akubavimbi nje kuphela ekuzuzeni okufanele bakuthole, kodwa, okubaluleke kakhulu, kuthikazisa umsebenzi Mina engihlose ukuwenza. Kuwuphazamisa kakhulu umsebenzi wesikhathi esizayo, futhi kuletha izinkinga kuphela, hhayi okusizayo. Ngakho, engikufundisa khona kumane kuyingqikithi kanye nomnyombo weBhayibheli. Angiceli ukuba ungalifundi iBhayibheli, noma ukuthi uhambe umemezela ukuthi aliwusizo lwalutho, kodwa ukuthi ube nolwazi nombono ofanele ngeBhayibheli. Ungabuki ohlangothini olulodwa ngokweqile! Nakuba iBhayibheli liyincwadi yomlando ebhalwe ngabantu, liphethe izimiso eziningi abangcwele nabaphrofethi basemandulo ababekhonza ngazo uNkulunkulu, kanye nalokho abaphostoli bakamuva abadlula kukho ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu—konke okwabonwa futhi kwaziwa ngempela yilaba bantu, futhi lingasebenza njengesibonelo kubantu bale nkathi ekuphokopheleni ukufuna indlela yeqiniso. Ngakho, ekufundeni iBhayibheli abantu bangazuza izindlela eziningi zokuphila ezingatholakali kwezinye izincwadi. Lezi zindlela yizindlela zokuphila zomsebenzi woMoya oNgcwele abadlula kuzo abaphrofethi nabaphostoli ezinkathini eziphambilini, futhi amazwi amaningi ayigugu, futhi angakuhlinzeka lokho abantu abakudingayo. Ngakho, bonke abantu bayathanda ukufunda iBhayibheli. Ngenxa yokuthi kuningi kakhulu okufihlakele eBhayibhelini, imibono yabantu ngalo ayifani naleyo ngemibhalo yabantu ababenegalelo elikhulu kwezikaMoya. IBhayibheli umbhalo kanye nenqolobane yalokho abantu abadlule kukho nolwazi lwabantu ababekhonza uJehova noJesu enkathini endala nentsha, ngakho izizukulwane zakamuva zikwazile ukuzuza okuningi ukukhanyiseleka, ukukhanyiswa, kanye nezindlela zokwenza kulona. Isizathu sokuthi iBhayibheli liphakeme kunemibhalo yanoma iliphi iqhawe kwezomoya yingoba yonke imibhalo yawo ithathelwe eBhayibhelini, konke abadlule kukho kuvela eBhayibhelini, futhi wonke achaza iBhayibheli. Ngakho, nakuba abantu bengathola ukuhlinzekwa ezincwadini zanoma yiliphi iqhawe kwezomoya, basalokhu bekhonza iBhayibheli, ngoba libonakala liphakeme futhi lijule kakhulu kubo! Nakuba iBhayibheli liletha ndawonye ezinye zezincwadi zamazwi okuphila, njengezincwadi zikaPawulu kanye nezincwadi zikaPetru, futhi nakuba abantu bengahlinzekwa futhi basizwe yilezi zincwadi, lezi zincwadi zishiywe yisikhathi nokho, ngezenkathi endala, futhi noma ngabe zinhle kangakanani, zilungele isikhathi esisodwa kuphela, futhi akuzona ezaphakade. Ngoba umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu uhlale uthuthuka, futhi awukwazi ukumane ume ngesikhathi sikaPawulu noPetru, noma uhlale eNkathini Yomusa ngenkathi lapho uJesu abethelwa kuyo. Ngakho, lezi zincwadi zilungele iNkathi Yomusa kuphela, hhayi iNkathi Yombuso wezinsuku zokugcina. Zingahlinzeka kuphela amakholwa eNkathi Yomusa, hhayi abangcwele beNkathi Yombuso, futhi noma ngabe zinhle kangakanani, zisalokhu zibhuntshile zingasasetshenziswa. Kuyafana nomsebenzi kaJehova wokudala noma umsebenzi Wakhe kwa-Israyeli: Akukhathaleki noma wawumkhulu kangakanani lo msebenzi, wawuselokhu ubhuntshile, uphelelwe isikhathi, futhi sasiyofika isikhathi lapho wawuyodlula. Umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu nawo uyefana: Muhle kakhulu, kodwa kuyofika isikhathi lapho uyophela; ngeke ulokhu ukhona phakathi komsebenzi wokudala, noma phakathi komsebenzi wokubethela. Akukhathaleki noma ngabe ukholisa kanjani umsebenzi wokubethelwa, akukhathaleki noma ngabe waphumelela kangakanani ukwehlula uSathane, umsebenzi phela, kusewumsebenzi, futhi nezinkathi, phela ziseyizinkathi; umsebenzi ngeke uhlale esisekelweni esisodwa futhi nezikhathi ngeke zingashintshi, ngoba kwakukhona ukudalwa, futhi kufanele kube khona izinsuku zokugcina. Lokhu akunakugwemeka! Ngakho, namhlanje amazwi okuphila eTestamenteni Elisha—izincwadi zabaphostoli, kanye namaVangeli Amane—asephenduke izincwadi zomlando, asephenduke amakhalenda amadala aphethe izinsuku zonyaka, futhi amakhalenda amadala abengabangenisa kanjani abantu enkathini entsha? Noma ngabe la makhalenda akwazi kangakanani ukunika abantu ukuphila, noma ngabe akwazi kanjani ukuholela abantu esiphambanweni, akuve ephelelwe isikhathi? Akuve engasewusizo lwalutho? Ngakho, ngithi akufanele ukholwe ngokumpumpuzela kula makhalenda. Madala kakhulu, ngeke akwazi ukukuletha emsebenzini omusha, futhi azokuthwalisa okusindayo nje kuphela. Akukhona ukuthi angeke akulethe emsebenzini omusha nokungena okusha kuphela, kodwa akuyisa emasontweni amadala enkolo—futhi uma kunjalo, akuve uhlehla nyova ekukholelweni kwakho kuNkulunkulu?

Lokho iBhayibheli elikuqophayo umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu kwa-Israyeli, kuhlanganisa okuthile kokwenziwa ngabantu bakwa-Israyeli. Ngaphezu kokuthi kwakhethwa izingxenye ezazizofakwa noma zikhishwe, nakuba uMoya oNgcwele engavumanga, nokho Yena akagxekanga. IBhayibheli liwumlando wakwa-Israyeli kuphela, futhi owumlando womsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Abantu, izindaba, kanye nezinto elibhala ngazo zonke zabe zikhona ngempela, futhi akukho kuzo okwakunencazelo ewuphawu—ngaphandle phela, kwesiphrofetho sika-Isaya, uDaniyeli, nabanye abaphrofethi, noma incwadi yemibono kaJohane. Abantu basekuqaleni bakwa-Israyeli babenolwazi futhi benesizotha, futhi ulwazi kanye nesimo sempucuko yabo yasemandulo yayithuthukile nokho, futhi lokho ababekubhala kwabe kuphakeme kunabantu banamhlanje. Ngenxa yalokho, ukuthi babekwazi ukubhala lezi zincwadi kufanele kungasimangazi, ngoba uJehova wayekade enze umsebenzi omningi kubona, futhi babebone okukhulu. UDavide wazibonela izenzo zikaJehova ngamehlo akhe, wazizwela zona mathupha, futhi wabona izimanga nezimangaliso eziningi, ngakho wabhala wonke lawo mahubo ukudumisa izenzo zikaJehova. Bakwazi ukubhala lezi zincwadi ezimweni ezithile, hhayi ngoba babenesiphiwo esiphezulu kakhulu. Babemdumisa uJehova ngoba babekade bembonile Yena. Uma ningakaze ubone lutho lukaJehova, futhi ningazi ngobukhona Bakhe Yena ningamdumisa kanjani? Uma ningakaze nimbone uJehova, ngeke nazi ukuthi kufanele nimdumise noma nimkhonze akusaphathwa ukuthi nibhale amahubo ngaye nimbabaze, futhi ngisho noma babenicela ukuba nisungule izenzo ezithile zikaJehova beningeke nikwazi ukukwenza lokho. Ukuthi namhlanje, ningamdumisa uNkulunkulu futhi nimthande uNkulunkulu yingoba futhi senike nambona, futhi nazizwela umsebenzi Wakhe—futhi uma izinga lenu liba ngcono, nani futhi, ngeke yini nikwazi ukubhala izinkondlo ukuze nidumise uNkulunkulu njengoDavide?

Ukuqonda iBhayibheli, ukuqonda umlando, kodwa ukungaqondi ukuthi uMoya oNgcwele wenzani namhlanje—lokho kuyiphutha! Wenze kahle kakhulu ukufunda umlando, wenze umsebenzi omuhle kakhulu, kodwa awuqondi lutho ngomsebenzi owenziwa uMoya oNgcwele namhlanje. Akubona yini lobo ubuwula? Abanye abantu bayakubuza: “Wenzani uNkulunkulu namhlanje? Yini okufanele ungene kuyo namhlanje? Kuhamba kanjani ukushisekela kwakho ukuphila? Ingabe uyayiqonda intando kaNkulunkulu?” Ngeke ube nampendulo ngalokho abakubuzayo—ngakho yini oyaziyo? Uzothi: Mina ngazi ukuthi kufanele ngifulathele inyama futhi ngizazi ubumina kuphela. Futhi uma bephinde bebuza ukuthi “Yini enye onolwazi ngayo?” Uzobe sewuthi uyazi nokuthi kufanele ulalele konke ukuhlela kukaNkulunkulu, futhi uqonde kancane ngomlando weBhayibheli, yilokho kuphela nje. Yikho konke okuzuzile ekukholweni kuNkulunkulu yonke le minyaka? Uma kuyilokho kuphela enikuqondayo, ngakho nishoda kakhulu. Ngakho, izinga lenu lamanje alikwazi nhlobo ukufeza lokho engikufuna kini, namaqiniso eniwaqondayo mancane ngokwedlulele, kanye namandla enu okwehlukanisa—okungukuthi, ukholo lwenu lukha phezulu kakhulu! Kufanele nihlome ngamaqiniso amaningi, futhi yilapho kuphela niyokwazi ukusabalalisa ivangeli, ngoba yilokho okufanele nikufeze!