7—Unogumbe

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiGenesis 6; 7.]

Ngemihla kaNowa, umhlaba wawunesiqalekiso esiphindwe kabini, ngenxa yesono sika-Adam kunye nokubulala kukaKayin. Konke oku kwakungadanga kwabuguqula kakhulu ubuso bomhlaba. Zazikho zona iimpawu ezibonakalayo zokonakala, kodwa umhlaba wawusatyebile umhle zizipho zokwazelelela kukaThixo. Iinduli zazigqunywe yimithi emikhulu exhasa amasebe athwele iziqhamo zemidiliya. Amathafa abanzi afana nesitiya esambathiswe ngohlaza, nevumba elimnandi lamawaka eentyatyambo. Iziqhamo zomhlaba zaziziindidi ezingafaniyo, ziphantse azabi nakuphela. Imithi yayiyidlula kude kakhulu ngobukhulu, ngobuhle, nangokumila kakuhle nayiphina ekhoyo ngoku; uluthi lwayo lwaluluhle lumpuluswa lomelele, lusondele kakhulu ekufaneni nelitye, lomelele njengalo. Igolide, isilivere, nelitye elinqabileyo zizinto ezazikho zininzi.ANa 90.1

Uluntu lwalusawagcinile amandla alo. Zazisembalwa izizukulwana ezidlulileyo kususela ukuba uAdam watya kumthi obenza bude ubomi; ubukho bomntu busalinganiselwa ngamakhulu eminyaka. Ukuba abo bantu babephila ubomi obude kangako, benamandla anqabileyo okuceba nokwenza, babeye bazinikela emsebenzini kaThixo, ngebabelenze layindumasi ngoku igama loMenzi wabo emhlabeni, babe ngebaba yimpendulo kwinjongo awayebanike ubomi ngenxa yayo. Bawa phantsi ukukwenza oko. Bayebaninzi abantu abakhulu, amadoda asithomo namandla amakhulu, ayesaziwa ngobulumko, anobuchule ekucebeni imisebenzi emihle nemangalisayo; kodwa ityala lawo lokuziyeka zirhuqe iintambo zobugwenxa kwakulingana nobuchule bawo nesakhono sengqondo.ANa 90.2

UThixo wabanika aba bantu baphambi koNogumbe izipho ezininzi nezihle; kodwa bazisebenzisa iintsikelelo zaKhe ekuzizukiseni kwabo, baziguqulela ukuba zibe sisiqalekiso ngokuba bamilisele uthando lwabo kwizipho endaweni yoMphi. Bayisebenzisa igolide nesilivere, amatye anqabileyo nemithi enexabiso ekuzakheleni iindawo zokuhlala, bakhuphisana ngokuzenza ntleizindluzabongobona buchule bokwenza. Bafuna ukwanelisa kuphela iminqweno yeentliziyo zabo ezinekratshi, bonwaba ngemibono yolonwabo nenkohlakalo. Bathi bengafuni ukumgcina uThixo kulwazi lwabo, bafikelela msinyane ekubukhanyeleni ubukho baKhe. Bayizukisa indalo endaweni kaThixo wendalo. Babudumisa ubulumko bomntu, banqula imisebenzi yezandla zabo, babafundisa abantwana babo ukuqubuda kwimifanekiso eqingqiweyo.ANa 90.3

Kumathafa amahle naphantsi kwemithunzi yemithi ebukekayo, bamisa izibingelelo zezithixo zabo. Amagcume emithi abanzi, ewagcina eluhlaza amasebe awo unyaka wonke, ayenikelwe ekunquleni izithixo ezibubuxoki. Kula magcume kwakukho nezitiya ezihle, kwiindlela zazo ezinde ezijikelezayo, kuyokozela imithi yeziqhamo zazo zonke iindidi phezu kwazo, zihombise imifanekiso eqingqiweyo, zifakelwe konke okuzisa ulonwabo kwizimvo okanye zilungiselela iminqweno yabantu abathanda iziyolo, ize ibalobe ukuba bathabathe inxaxheba kunqulo lwezithixo.ANa 91.1

Abantu bamkhupha uThixo elwazini lwabo, banqula izidalwa zeengcamango zokuyila kweengqondo zabo; saza isiphumo soko, bafana nazo ngakumbi nangakumbi ngokuba phantsi. Umdumisi uyayichaza impembelelo yokunqula nokudumisa izithixo. Uthi, “Boba njengazo abenzi bazo, bonke abasukuba bekholose ngazo.” Ndumiso 115:8. Ngumthetho wengqondo yomntu ukuba, ngokukhangela siyaguquka. Umntu akanakho ukuphakama ngaphezu kweembono zakhe zenyaniso, ubunyulu, nobungcwele. Ukuba ingqondo ayize iphakame ngaphezu komgangatho wobuntu, ukuba ayiphakanyiswa lukholo ukuze icamngce ngobulumko nothando olungenasiphelo, umntu uya kuhlala esihla ukuya ezantsi okokoko. Abakhonzi boothixo bobuxoki babebambathisa oothixo babo ngeempawu nemizwa yobuntu, ngenxa yoko, umgangatho wabo wesimilo wawuhle ngokufana nobuntu besono. Ekugqibeleni, nabo babengcolisiwe. “Wabona uThixo ukuba ububi babantu bandile ehlabathini, konke ukuyila kweengcinga zentliziyo yabo kubububi bodwa imihla yonke. . . . Ihlabathi lalonakele ebusweni bukaThixo; ihlabathi lalizele lugonyamelo.” UThixo wayebanike abantu imithetho yaKhe ukuba ibe ngumgangatho wobomi, kodwa umthetho waKhe waphulwa, isiphumo yaba siso sonke isono esinokucingwa. Inkohlakalo yabantu yayibonakala isenziwa ngesibindi, ubulungisa bunyathelelwa emhlabeni, izililo zabacinezelweyo zifikelela ezulwini. Ukuthatyathwa kwabafazi abaninzi kwakuselekuqalwe kwangaphambili, ngokuchasene nolungiselelolwezulu kwasekuqalekeni. UYehova wayemnike uAdam umfazi omnye, ebonisa indlela ezimele ukuhamba ngayo izinto kuloo mbandela. Kwathi emva kokuWa, amadoda akhetha ukulandela iinkanuko zawo zesono; isiphumo, ukwaphulwa komthetho nokuphila kalusizi kwanda ngokukhawuleza. Aluzange luhlonitshwe ulwalamano, kunye namalungelo okuba nezinto emtshatweni. Nabanina owayeziva enqwenela abafazi okanye izinto zommelwane, wayezithabatha ngenkani, amadoda evuyiswa zizenzo zawo zobubhovubhovu. Ayevuyiswa kukutshabalalisa ubomi bezilwanyana; nokusebenzisa kwawo inyama awayeyinikiwe njengokutya, kwawenza akhohlakala alinxanelwa ngakumbi igazi, ada afikelwa kukungakhathali ngobomi babantu.ANa 91.2

Ihlabathi lalisebutsheni balo; kanti ubugwenxa babuse bunzulu, bande kangangokuba uThixo angabi nako ukubunyamezela; wathi, “Ndiya kumcima umntu endimdalileyo, angabikho ehlabathini.”ANa 92.1

Wathi, uMoya waKhe awusayi kuzamana nobubi boluntu. Ukuba abakuyeki ukungcolisa ngezono zabo umhlaba nobutyebi bawo, uya kubacima kwindalo yaKhe, azitshabalalise izinto awayekonwabele ukubasikelela ngazo; azitshayele izilwanyana zasendle, notyani olwalubanika ukutya okuninzi, awuguqule umhlaba omhle ukuba ube ngumbono obanzi womqwebedu nentshabalalo.ANa 92.2

Phakathi kwenkohlakalo eyayigquba, uMethusela, uNowa, nabanye abaninzi, basebenza nzima ukugcina ulwazi lukaThixo wenene luphilile, nokuthintela umsinga wokuziphatha kakubi. Ikhulu elinamashumi amabini eminyaka phambi koNogumbe, uYehova, ngesithunywa esingcwele, wavakalisa injongo yaKhe kuNowa, wamyalela ukuba akhe umkhombe. Ngexesha wayesakha umkhombe, kwakufuneka eshumayele ukuba uThixo uza kuzisa isikhukhula samanzi phezu komhlaba ukuba sitshabalalise abakhohlakeleyo. Abo babeya kukholwa sisigidimi, baze balungiselele eso siganeko ngokuguquka nokuphila ngokutsha, bamelwe kukufumana uxolelo baze basindiswe. UEnoki wayiphinda kubantwana bakhe into uThixo awambonisa yona malunga noNogumbe, waza uMethusela noonyana bakhe, ababephila baza bakuva ukushumayela kukaNowa, bamncedisa ekwakheni umkhombe.ANa 94.1

UThixo wamnika uNowa imilinganiselo ethe ngqo yomkhombe nemiyalelo ecacileyo ngayo yonke indlela yokwakhiwa kwawo. Ubulumko bomntu babungenakho ukuceba isakhiwo esinjalo ukuqina nokomelela. UThixo wayengumzobi, uNowa engumakhi omkhulu. Sasakhiwe njengesiqu senqanawa, ukuze sikwazi ukudada phezukwamanzi,kodwa kwezinye iindawo sasifana kakhulu nendlu. Sasinemigangatho emithathu ukubheka phezulu, umnyango umnye, usecaleni. Ukukhanya kwakungena ngaphezulu, amagumbi awahlukeneyo elungiselelwe ukuba abe nokukhanya. Izixhobo ezazisetyenziswe ekwakheni umkhombe womsedare okanye umthi wegofere, owawungasayi kuchukunyiswa kukubola kude kube ngamakhulu eminyaka. Isakhiwo esingaka ukuba sikhulu sasingumsebenzi ocothayo nonzima. Ngenxa yobukhulu bemithi nendalo yayo, wawumninzi kakhulu umsebenzi owawufuneka kunangoku ukulungisa imithi, nangona ngoko abantu babenamandla amaninzi. Yonke into umntu anokuyenza yayenziwe ukuze umsebenzi ugqibelele, kanti ke, umkhombe wona ngokwawo wawungenako ukumelana noqhwithela olwaluza kubakho phezu komhlaba. NguThixo kuphela owayenokubagcina abakhonzi baKhe kumanzi adubekileyo.ANa 94.2

“Ngokholo uNowa, ehlatyelwe nguThixo ngazo izinto ebezingekabonwa, wathi ngokoyika uThixo wawakha umkhombe wokusindisa indlu yakhe, awathi ngalo waligweba ihlabathi, waba yindlalifa yobulungisa obungokholo.” Hebhere 11:7. Ngexesha uNowa wayenika isigidimi soyalo ehlabathini, imisebenzi yakhe yayingqinelana nokunyaniseka kwakhe. Yiloo ndlela eyenza ukuba ukholo lwakhe lugqibelele, lucace. Ihlabathi walinika umzekelo wokukholelwa kanye kwinto uThixo ayithethayo. Bonke ubutyebi awayenabo, wabonga ngokubuchithela emkhombeni. Xa wayeqala ukwakha loo mkhombe mkhulu, izihlwele zaziphuma kwiinkalo zonke ukuba zibone umbono ongaqhelekanga nokuba zive amazwi anyanisekileyo nashushu omshumayeli ongaqhelekanga. Isandi ngasinye awayesenza ekubetheleleni umkhombe sasibubungqina ebantwini.ANa 95.1

Ekuqaleni abaninzi baba ngathi bayasiva isiyalo; kodwa ababuyela kuThixo ngenguquko yenene. Babengenayo intumekelelo yokushiya izono zabo. Kwixesha elalikho phambi kukaNogumbe, ukholo lwabo lwavavanywa, baza bawa phantsi ekunyamezeleni ukulingwa. Bathi, boyiswe kukungakholwa okugqubayo, ekugqibeleni bahlangana nabahlobo babo bakuqala ekwaleni isigidimi esihloniphekileyo. Abanye baboyiseke kakhulu, baye befuna ukuwalulamela amazwi okulumkisa, kodwa babe baninzi ababeqhula behlekisa, baza nabo bangenelela, bazala izimemo zenceba, baza bathi, kungekudala, baphakathi kwabona banesibindi nabona badelelayo abagxeki; kuba, abakho abantu abangakhathaliyo nabangena nzulu esonweni njengabo bakha banako ukukhanya, kodwa babuya baxhathisa ekuthinjweni nguMoya kaThixo.ANa 95.2

Abantu beso sizukulwana, yayingengabo bonke abanqula izithixo,xa sekuthethwa ngokupheleleyo. Baninzi ababesithi banqula uThixo. Babesithi oothixo babo abaqingqiweyo bami endaweni kaThixo, nokuba, ngabo [thixo] babeye bamqonde ngokucacileyo Oyingcwele. Olu didi lwaluphambili ekungamamkeleni uNowa. Ekuzameni kwabo ukuba nezinto ezimi endaweni kaThixo kwizinto eziphathekayo, iingqondo zabo zaya zamfanyekiswa ngakubungangamsha namandla aKhe; bayeka ukubuqonda ubungcwele besimilo saKhe, okanye ubungcwele obungaguqukiyo bemvelo yemiyalelo yaKhe. Xa isono saba yinto efumaneka jikelele, kancinane kancinane sakhangeleka singesiso, baza ekugqibeleni bathi umthetho wezulu awusenaso isinyanzelo; nokuba kuchasene nesimilo sikaThixo ukohlwaya ukreqo; bakhanyela ukuba izigwebo zikaThixo ziya kuba phezu komhlaba. Ukuba abantu beso sizukulwana babeyithobele imithetho yezulu, ngebabeliqondile ilizwi likaThixo ekulumkiseni ngomkhonzi waKhe; kodwa iingqondo zabo zazimfanyekiswe kukwala ukukhanya bada bakholelwa ngokwenene ukuba isigidimi sikaNowa yayilulahlekiso.ANa 96.1

Yayingesiso isihlwele okanye isininzi esasikwicala lokulungileyo. Ihlabathi lalimi lichasene nobulungisa bukaThixo nemithetho yaKhe, yena uNowa ebonwa njengozibaxayo izinto. Xa uSathana wayelinga uEva ukuba angamthobeli uThixo, wathi kuye, “Anisayi kufa.” Genesis 3:4. Amadoda amakhulu, athanda ilizwe, nalumkileyo, ayayiphinda loo nto. “Izothuso zikaThixo,” atsho, “zezokoyikisa, azisayi kuze zenziwe. Musani ukothuka. Isiganeko esinje ngokutshatyalaliswa komhlaba nguThixo owawenzayo, nokohlwaywa kwabantu awabadalayo, azisokuze zenzeke. Xolani; musani ukoyika. UNowa ngumntu odlul’ emgceni ongaqeqeshekanga.” Ilizwe lazonwabisa ngobudenge bexhego eliphambeneyo. Endaweni yokuthoba intliziyo phambi kukaThixo, baqhubeka nokungathobeli nenkohlakalo, wangathi uThixo akathethanga nabo ngomkhonzi waKhe.ANa 96.2

UNowa wema njengeliwa phakathi koqhwithelo. Wathi erhangqwe kukudelela nokuhlekisa okwakuthandwa, wazibalula ngesidima esingcwele nangokunyaniseka okungagungqiyo. Amazwi akhe ayenamandla, kuba ayelilizwi likaThixo eliya ebantwini ngesicaka saKhe. Uqhagamshelwano noThixo lwamenza womelela emandleni angapheliyo, lo gama, ikhulu elinamashumi amabini eminyaka ilizwi lakhe elinendili lawa kwiindlebe zeso sizukulwana lithetha ngeziganeko, ngokokubona kobulumko babantu, ezazingenako ukwenzeka.ANa 96.3

Ihlabathi phambi koNogumbe lalixoxa ngelithi, kwakuziinkulungwane yemayo imithetho yendalo. Amaxesha omnyaka ayezenzekela ngendlela yawo. Ukuza kufika kwelo lixa, yayingazange yabakho imvula; umhlaba wawusenziwamanzi yinkunguokanye umbethe. Imilambo ayizange yadlula kwimida yayo, koko yayiwathwalela elwandle amanzi ayo ngokukhuselekileyo. Imithetho emileyo yawagcina amanzi ukuba angaphuphumeli ngaphandle kwendonga zayo (imilambo). La maciko awazange asihloniphe isandla saLowo waye wabamba amanzi, esithi, “Fika apha, ungegqithi,” Yobhi 38:11.ANa 97.1

Ngokuhamba kwexesha, kungekho lutshintsho lubonakalayo endalweni, abantu ababesithi maxa wambi boyike baqala ukuqinisekiswa. Bazathuza, njengoko abaninzi bezathuza ngoku, besithi indalo ingaphezu koThixo wendalo, nokuba imithetho yayo ime nkqi kangangokuba noThixo ngokwaKhe akanako ukuyiguqula. Bexoxa besithi, ukuba uNowa ebe nyanisile, indalo ibiya kuphuma endleleni yayo, baza basenza eso sigidimi (sikaNowa), ezingqondweni zehlabathi, ukuba sibe lulahlekiso--inkohliso enkulu. Babonakalisa ukusidelela isilumkiso sikaThixo ngokwenza oko babefudula bekwenza phambi kokuba kunikwe isiyalo. Baqhubeka neziyolo zabo, imigidi yezidlo; badla basela, batyala bakha, besandlala amacebo ngokobuhle ababelindele ukubuzuza kwixesha elizayo; bahamba imigama emide enkohlakalweni, ukuqinisekisa ukuba abamoyiki Lowo umi ngonaphakade. Banyanzelisa ukuthi, ukuba yayikho inyaniso kwinto eyayithethwa nguNowa, abantu abahloniphekileyo, izilumko, abahlakaniphileyo, amadoda amakhulu, ngebewuqonda umcimbi.ANa 97.2

Ukuba abantu baphambi kukaNogumbe babeye bakholelwa bakulunyukiswa, baguquka kwizenzo zabo ezibi, uYehova ngewayibeka bucala ingqumbo yaKhe, njengoko wenzayo eNineve emva koko. Ngokuxhathisa kwabo ngeenkani ekuthethiseni kwesazela kunye nezilumkiso zomprofeti kaThixo, esa sizukulwana sayizalisa indebe yobugwenxa baso, salungela intshabalalo.ANa 97.3

Ixesha lenceba lalisele liza kuphela. UNowa wayeyilandele ngokuthembeka imiyalelo awayeyifumene kuThixo. Umkhombe wagqitywa yonke into, ngokomyalelo kaYehova, kwafakwa ukutya komntu nesilwanyana. Wenza ke ngoku umkhonzi kaThixo isibheno esilusizi sokugqibela ebantwini. Ngolangazelelo olunentlungu engenako ukubekwa ngamazwi, wabacenga ukuba bafune igwiba lisenokufumaneka. Baphinda bawala amazwi akhe, bawaphakamisa amazwi abo bemqhula bemgxeka. Ngequbuliso kwathi nzwanga kwisihlwele esigculelayo. Izilo zazo zonke iintlobo, ezona zoyikekayo nezona zimbuna, zabonwa zisihla entabeni ziphuma ehlathini zisinga emkhombeni. Yavakala ingxolo yomoya ongxamileyo, khangela, nazo iintaka ziphuma zikhawulezile kuzo zonke iinkalo, ziyimikhosi eyenza mnyama isibhakabhaka, ngemingcelele enesidima, zidlula zingena emkhombeni. Izilwanyana zawuthobela umyalelo kaThixo, lo gama abantu bengazange bathobele. Ngokukhokelwa ziingelosi ezingcwele, “kwangena ngambini, ngambini, kuNowa emkhombeni,” izilwanyana ezihlambulukileyo zangena ngasixhenxe, ngasixhenxe. Ihlabathi lakhangela limangalisiwe, abanye besoyika. Kwabizwa izazi ukuba zinike ingxelo ngesi siganeko singaqhelekanga, kodwa azeza nanto. Yayiyimfihlelo ezazingenakho ukuyigqala. Abantu ke baye baqine ngakumbi xa besithi rhoqo ukwala ukukhanya, kangangokuba nalo umbono wabanika ukothuka nje komzuzwana. Bathi aba bantu basiphelo sibi bakukhangela ilanga libengezela ngobuqaqawuli balo, umhlaba wambathiswe ngobuhle obusondele kobe-Eden, balugxotha uloyiko lwabo olwalunyuka ngemigidi ezaliswe yingxolo, benza izinto zenkohlakalo, kwanga kukona bazibizela ukohlwaywa kwingqumbo kaThixo eyayisele ivutha kakade.ANa 97.4

UThixo wamyalela uNowa ngelithi, “Ngena, wena nendlu yakho yonke, emkhombeni, ngokuba ndibona wena ilungisa phambi kwam kwesi sizukulwana.” Iziyalo zikaNowa zazaliwe lihlabathi, kodwa impembelelo yakhe nomzekelo wakhe zaba nesiphumo esiziintsikelelo kusapho lwakhe. Njengomvuzo wokunyaniseka nokuziphatha ngentlonipho kwakhe, uThixo wawasindisa onke amalungu osapho kunye naye. Inkuthazo emangalisayo ekunyanisekeni komzali!ANa 98.1

Inceba yakuyeka ukucenga uluntu olonileyo. Izilwanyana zasendle neentaka zezulu zangena kwindawo yokuphephela. UNowa nendlu yakhe babephakathi emkhombeni, “uYehova wamvalela ngaphakathi.” Kwabonakala ukukhanya okubengezelayo kusihla kuphuma ezulwini kwahlala phambi komnyango womkhombe. Ucango olunzima, olwalungenakho ukuvalwa ngabangaphakathi, lwabuya kancinane lusisiwa endaweni yalo zizandla ezingabonwayo. UNowa wavalelwa ngaphakathi, abo bayalayo inceba kaThixo bavalelwa ngaphandle. Itywina lezulu lwalukolo cango; lwaluvalwe nguThixo, ikwa nguThixo kuphela onokulivula. Koba njalo xa uYesu egqibe umsebenzi wokuthethelela aboni, phambi kokuba abuye ngamafu ezulu, ucango lwenceba luya kuvalwa. Inceba yezulu ayisayi kuba sabanqanda abakhohlakeleyo, uSathana abalawule ngokupheleleyo abo bayalileyo inceba. Baya kuzama ukubatshabalalisa abantu bakaThixo; kodwa, njengoko uNowa wayevalelwe phakathi, namalungisa aya kuba phantsi kokhuselo lwamandla ezulu.ANa 98.2

Kwada kwaba ziintsuku ezisixhenxe uNowa nosapho lwakhe bengenile emkhombeni, kungekho mqondiso wesiphango sizayo ubonakalayo. Ngeli xesha ukholo lwabo lwaluvavanywa. Yayilixesha loloyiso kwihlabathi elalibukeka lonwabile lingaphandle. Ukulibazisaokwakungathikukho, kwabaqinisekisa ukuba,isigidimisikaNowa sasilulahlekiso, nokuba akasokuze abekho uNogumbe. Nangona imibono enendili babeyibonile —izilwanyana neentaka zingena emkhombeni, nengelosi kaThixo iluvala ucango - baqhubeka nokudlala kwabo bemigcobo, behlekisa ngezi zibonakalaliso zamandla kaThixo. Beza bezizihlwele ngaphandle komkhombe bawurhangqa, bebegculela abo bangaphakathi ngobona bundlongondlongo abangazange babubonisa ngaphambili.ANa 98.3

Ngosuku lwesibhozo amafu amnyama agquma amazulu. Kwalandela ukugqekreza kweendudumo nokutshawuza kwemibane. Kungekudala, kwaqala ukuwa kwamathontsi amakhulu emvula. Ilizwe lalingazange layibona into elolu hlobo, zaza iintliziyo zabantu zabethwa luloyiko. Bonke babezibuza ngasese, “Ingaba bethu kunokwenzeka ukuba uNowa wayenyanisile, nokuba ihlabathi liza kutshabalala?” amazulu aya eba mnyama ngokuba mnyama, sakhula isantya sokuwa kwemvula. Izilwanyana zabhadula zisoyika kakhulu, izikhalo zazo ezahlukeneyo zingathi ziyakhalaza ngenxa yesiphelo sazo nesomntu. “Yagqabhuka yonke imithombo yenzonzobila, iingcango zezulu zavuleka.” Ukuphuma emafini, amanzi ayengathi ehla kwiingxangxasi ezinkulu. Yadlula imilambo kwimida yayo, yazalisa iintili. Aphuma amanzi emhlabeni etsaza ngamandla angenakuchazwa, ekhupha izinto ezinkulu zamatye, ezazigibiseleka amakhulu eenyawo emoyeni, athi xa esiwa aphinde atshone emhlabeni.ANa 99.1

Abantu baqala ukubona ukutshabalala kwemisebenzi yezandla zabo. Izakhiwo zabo ezihle, izitiya nezigcume apho babebeke khona izithixo zabo, zatshatyalaliswa ngumbane ophuma ezulwini, iingceba zathi saa kuyo yonke indawo. Izibingelelo ekwakubingelelwa kuzo abantu zawiswa phantsi, abanquli bangcangcazela phambi kwamandla kaThixo ophilayo, bazi ukuba kwakungenxa yeentlondi zabo nokunqula kwabo izithixo okwabazisela intshabalalo yabo.ANa 99.2

Kwathi xa bunyuka ubundlobongela boqhwithela, imithi, izakhiwo, amatye, nomhlaba konke kwathi saa. Uloyiko lomntu nesilwanyana lwalungapha kokuba kungachazwa. Ngaphezu komgqumo wesichotho kwakuvakala isikhalo sabantu ababelidelile igunya likaThixo. USathana, owayenyanzelekile ukuba ahlale phakathi kweziqalelo ezilwayo, wayesoyikela obakhe ubomi naye. Wayekonwabele ukulawula uluntu olunamandla angako, elangazelelaukuba luphile ukuze lwenze amasikizi alo, luqhubeke novukelo lwalo ngakuMdali wezulu. Ngeli xesha wenza izishwabulo ngakuThixo, emtyhola ngokungabi nabulungisa nangenkohlakalo. Abantu abaninzi, njengoSathana, bamnyelisa uThixo, ukuba babenako, ngebamqwenga bamkhupha kuloo trone yamandla. Abanye babephelile kukoyika, izandla bezolulele emkhombeni bebongoza ukuba bangeniswe. Izicengo zabo zazililize. Ekugqibeleni, isazela savuselwa ekubeni siqonde ukuba ukho uThixo olawulayo emazulwini. Bakhala kuYe benyanisile, kodwa indlebe yaKhe yayingasasiva isikhalo sabo. Ngelo xesha lentlekele, babuqonda ubugwenxa babo bokwaphula umthetho kaThixo ukuba bubo unobangela wentshabalalo yabo. Noko kunjalo, besoyika ukohlwaywa benjalo, basivuma isono sabo, kodwa abazange bazive belusizi bengabuthiyanga ububi. Ngebabebuyele ekudeleleni kwabo, ukuba isigwebo sasinokurhoxiswa. Ngokunjalo, xa izigwebo zikaThixo zisiwa phezu komhlaba phambi kokugutyungelwa ngomlilo, abangaguqukanga baya kwazi ukuba siphi, siyintoni isono sabo-ukudelela umthetho kaThixo. Noko kunjalo, abasayi kuba nayo inguquko yenene kanye njengoko benzayo aboni behlabathi langaphambili.ANa 99.3

Abanye bathi ekubandezelekeni kwabo bazama ukungena ngenkani emkhombeni, kodwa isakhiwo esomeleleyo samelana nemizamo yabo. Abanye babambelela emkhombeni bada batshayelwa ngamanzi anyukayo, okanye indawo ababambelele kuyo yaphulwa kukungqubeka emaweni nokubetheka emithini. Umkhombe omkhulu nonzima wawubethwa ungcangcazele wonke xa ududlwa yimimoya engenanceba, uphoswa ngapha nangapha ngamaza. Izikhalo zezilwanyana ngaphakathi zazixela ukoyika kwazo kunye nentlungu. Kuzo zonke ezo ziqalelo zomhlaba (imvula, umoya, namanzi) wadada umkhombe ukhuselekile. Iingelosi ezinamandla kakhulu zayalelwa ukuba ziwugcine.ANa 100.1

Izilwanyana ezazijongene noqhwithela, zabalekela emntwini, kwangathi zilindele ukuba azincede. Abanye abantu bazibophelela benabantwana babo kwimiqolo yezilwanyana ezinamandla, besazi ukuba zona ziyakwazi ukutshela ebomini, koko zaziya kukhwela kwezona ndawo ziphakamileyo ukuze zisinde kumanzi anyukayo. Abanye bazibophelela emithini emide ezincotsheni zeenduli okanye zeentaba; kodwa imithi yancothuka, ithi inemithwalo yayo engabantu iphoseke kumaza azele ngumsindo. Iindawo nganye nganye ezazingathi zithembisa inkuseleko zashiywa. Athi xa amanzi enyuka ngokunyuka, abantu babalekela kwezona ntaba ziphakamileyo. Abantu nezilwanyana babebalekela kunye kwindawo ekunokuxhathiswa kuyo, ekugqibeleni bona kunye nazo, konke kutshayelwe kumke.ANa 100.2

Bekwezona ncopho ziphezulu, abantu bakhangela kulwandle olungenalo unxweme. Izilumkiso ezindilisekileyo zomkhonzi kaThixo zazingasabonakali ziyinto yokuhlekisa nokugculelwa. Indlela abo boni bagwetyiweyo ababelangazelela ngayo ithubaabalidelayo!Indlela ababecenga ngayo ukuba banikwe inceba yeyure nje, ilungelo libe linye nje lenceba, ubizo lube lunye nje kuphela oluphuma emlonyeni kaNowa! Babengasayi kubuya balive ilizwi elimyoli lenceba. Uthando, olungekho nganeno kobulungisa basemthethweni, lwaludinga ukugweba kukaThixo ukuze kuthintelwe isono. Amanzi empindezelo akutshabalalisa ukuhlehla kokugqibela, baza abamdelelayo uThixo batshabalala kwiinzulu ezimnyama.ANa 101.1

“Ngalo ilizwi likaThixo . . . ihlabathi langoko lantywiliselwa ngamanzi, latshabalala. Ke lona izulu langoku, nawo umhlaba lo, kwangelo lizwi ezo zinto ziqwetyelwe, zigcinelwe, umlilo, kuse kwimini yomgwebo nentshabalalo yabantu abangahloneli Thixo.” 2 Petros 3:5-7. Esinye isaqhwithi siyeza. Umhlaba uza kuphinda utshayelwe yingqumbo etshabalalisayo kaThixo, isono kunye naboni batshatyalaliswe.ANa 101.2

Izono ezazisa impindezelo kubantu ababephila phambi koNogumbe zikho namhlanje. Ukoyika uThixo kususiwe ezintliziyweni zabantu, umthetho waKhe uphethwe ngokungakhathali nokudelelwa. Ukuthanda ihlabathi okunzulu kweso sizukulwana kulingana nokwesizukulwana esiphila ngoku. UYesu wathi, “Njengokuba babesithi, ngemihla ebingaphambi konogumbe, badle basele, bazeke, bendise, kwada kwayimini awangena ngayo emkhombeni uNowa, bengaqondanga, wada wafika unogumbe, wabakhukulisa bonke: koba njalo nokufika koNyana woMntu.” Mateyu 24:38, 39. UThixo akazange abagwebe abantu ababephambi koNogumbe kuba besitya besela; wayebanike ngokwaneleyo izixhaso zomzimba. Isono sabo sasiquka ukuzithabatha ezi zipho ngaphandle kombulelo kuLowo unguMniki, baze bazibhodloze ngokuziyekela elitheni ngaphandle kwemikhala. Kwakusemthethweni ukuba batshate. Umtshato wawukwicebo likaThixo; waba sisimiselo sokuqala awasakhayo. Wanika imiyalelo eyodwa ngale nkonzo, eyambathisa ngobungcwele nobuhle; kodwa le miyalelo yalityalwa, waza umtshato wagqwethelwa ekubeni ube ngumlungiseleli wenkanuko.ANa 101.3

Imeko enjengale ikho namhlanje. Oko kungumthetho kuyabaxwa. Ukuthanda ukutya kungenwa kuko ngaphandle kwemikhala. Abazibiza ngokuba bangabalandeli bakaKristu namhlanje batya basele namanxila, ukanti amagama abo asezincwadini ezihloniphekileyo zebandla. Ukungabikho kobungcathu kudakumbisa ukuziphatha namandla asemoyeni kulungise indlela yokuyekela kwemizwa ephantsi (yenkanuko). Izihlwele ziziva zingekho phantsi kokunyanzeleka kokuziphatha ukuba lunqandeiinkanuko zemizwa yazo, zize zisuke zibe ngamakhoboka enkanuko. Abantu baphilela iziyolo zokuzanelisa; kweli lizwe nakobu bomi kuphela. Ukuthsafaza kufumaneka kuzo zonke iindawo zasekuhlaleni. Isidima kunikelwe ngaso kubuncwane nasekuziboniseni. Abo bangxamela ukuba zizityebi bagqwetha ubulungisa babacinezele abangamahlwempu, “namakhoboka nemiphefumlo yabantu” isathengwa ibuye ithengiswe.ANa 101.4

Ubumenemene nokunyoba nobusela buzihambela unothanda bungakhalinyelwa kwiindawo eziphezulu nakweziphantsi. Iindaba zamaphepha zizele ziingxelo zokubulala—ukwaphulwa komthetho okwenziwa ngabom nangaphandle kwesizathu, into nje engathi isazela siphelile. Ezi zinto zimbi kangaka ziqheleke kangokuba azisavusi ntetho okanye nakumangala ebantwini. Umoya wokuvukela uyathubeleza ungena phakathi kuzo zonke izizwe, kwaye ukuqhambuka kwamasikizi okwenzeka amaxesha ngamaxesha ehlabathini, kubonakalisa ukuphela kwemililo yemizwa kunye nokungabikho komthetho okuthi, ngako nje ukuba kungalawuleki, kuwuzalise umhlaba ngosizi nokudideka. Umfanekiso wehlabathi laphambi koNogumbe onikwa yiMpefumlelo ubonisa ngokwenene imeko elingxamele kuyo eli hlabathi lale mihla. Nangoku, kule inkulungwane, nakumazwe athi angawobuKristu, kukho ulwaphulo lomthetho olwenzeka mihla le, lulubi lusoyikeka kanye njengolo lwenza ukuba aboni behlabathi elidala batshatyalaliswe.ANa 102.1

Phambi koNogumbe uThixo wathuma uNowa ukuba aliyale ihlabathi, ukuze abantu bakhokelelwe enguqukweni, baze basinde kwintshabalalo. Njengoko liya lisondela ixesha lokubuya kwesibini kukaKristu, uYehova uthumela abakhonzi baKhe nesilumkiso ehlabathini ukuze balungiselele eso siganeko sikhulu. Intlaninge iphila ngokwaphula umthetho kaThixo, kodwa ngoku, ngenceba, uyababiza ukuba bathobele imiyalelo yawo engcwele. Bonke abazibeka nxamnye izono ngokuguqukela kuThixo nokukholwa kuYesu, banikwa uxolelo. Baninzi kodwa abacinga ukuba kufuna umbingelelo omkhulu ukushiya isono. Ngenxa yokuba ubomi babo bungahambelani nokulawula kukaThixo indlela yokuziphatha, bayazala izilumkiso balikhanyele igunya lomthetho waKhe.ANa 102.2

Kwintlaninge yabantu ababephila phambi kukaNogumbe, basibhozo kuphela abantu abakholwayo balithobela ilizwi likaThixo awalithetha ngoNowa. Kwaba yiminyaka elikhulu elinamashumi amabini umshumayeli wobulungisa elumkisa ihlabathi ngentshabalalo eyayisiza, kodwa isigidimi sakhe saliwa sadelelwa. Kuya kubanjalo nangoku. Phambi kokuba uMniki-mthetho afike ukuza kohlwaya abangathobeliyo, aboni bayalunyukiswa ukuba baguquke, babuyele ekuthobeleni kwabo; kodwa kwabaninzi, ezi zilumkiso ziya kuba lilize. Uthi umpostile uPetros, “Kuya kuza ngemihla yokugqibela abagxeki, behamba ngokwezabo iinkanuko, besithi, Liphi na kaloku idinga lokufika kwakhe? Kuba kuseloko oobawo balalayo ukufa, izinto zonke zahlala zihleli zinjengokwasekuqalekeni kwendalo.” 2 Petros 3:3, 4. Asiweva ephindaphindwa na la mazwi, kungekuphela ngabo bangamhloneli ngokuphandle uThixo, kodwa ngabaninzi abema emaqongeni okushumayela ezwe lethu? “Akukho nto yothusayo,” batsho. “Phambi kokuba afike uKristu, lonke ihlabathi liya kuguquka, kulawule ubulungisa iminyaka eliwaka. Luxolo, luxolo! Zonke izinto zisaqhubeka njengoko zazinjalo ekuqalekeni. Makungabikho bantu baphazanyiswa zizigidimi ezothusayo zabakhwazi bengozi.” Yona le mfundiso yewaka leminyaka ayihambelani neemfundiso zikaKristu nabapostile baKhe. UYesu wabuza umbuzo obalulekileyo, “Akufika uNyana woMntu, wolufumana na ke ukholo ehlabathini apha?” Njengoko sesibonile, uyatsho ukuba ihlabathi liya kuba njengemihla kaNowa. UPawulos usilumkisa ukuba sikhangele ukwanda kwenkohlakalo xa isiphelo sisondela: “Ke kaloku uMoya uthi ngokucacileyo inxenye iya kumka elukholweni, ngamaxesha asemva, inyamekele oomoya abalahlekisayo, neemfundiso zeedemon.” 1 Timoti 4:1. Uthi umpostile, “Ngemihla yokugqibela kuya kufika amaxesha anomngcipheko.” 2 Timoti 3:1. Unika uludwe olothusayo lwezono eziya kufunyanwa phakathi kwabo banokumila kokuhlonela uThixo.ANa 102.3

Lathi xa liphela ixesha lenceba yabo, abantu baphambi kukaNogumbe bazinikela ekuthandeni iziyolo nemisitho ehlazisayo. Abo babenempembelelo namandla, bazimisela ekugcineni iingqondo zabantu zizaliswe yimigidi neziyolo, hleze kubekho abathile abakholiswa sisilumkiso sokugqibela. Asikuboni na oku kusenzeka kule mihla yethu? Ngexesha abakhonzi bakaThixo benika isigidimi sokuba isiphelo sezinto zonke sisemnyango, ihlabathi litshone zwabha kwiziyolo nasekufuneni ulonwabo. Kukho ukuthabatheka okuthe rhoqo kukungakhathaleli uThixo nokuthintela abantu ekubeni nomdla kwiinyaniso ekukuphela kwazo ezinokusindisa kwintshabalalo ezayo.ANa 103.1

Ngemihla kaNowa, abanolwazi bathi, ayingekhe yenzeke into yokuba umhlaba utshatyalaliswe ngamanzi; nangoku bakho abantu abanolwazi lwesayensi abazama ukubonisa ukuba umhlaba awunakuze utshatyalaliswe ngomlilo—batsho besithi le nto ayihambelani nemithetho yendalo. Yena uThixo wendalo, uMenzi noMlawuli wemithetho yayo, unokusebenzisa imisebenzi yezandla zaKhe ukufeza injongo yaKhe.ANa 103.2

Akuba amadoda amakhulu nalumkileyo ebonise ukwaneliseka kwawo ukuba kwakungenakoukwenzekaukubaihlabathilitshatyalaliswe ngamanzi, kwakuba ukoyika kwabantu kuthomalalisiwe, bakuba bonke besibona isiprofeto sikaNowa njengolahlekiso, bamkhangela njengozibaxayo izinto—kungelo xesha ke elathi lafika elikaThixo ixesha. “Yagqabhuka yonke imithombo yenzonzobila enkulu, iingcango zezulu zavuleka.” Abahlekisayo bagutyungelwa ngamanzi kaNogumbe. Benako konke ukuzibabaza kolwazi lwabo, abantu bafumanisa sekusemva ukuba ubulumko babo yayibubudenge, nokuba uMniki-mthetho mkhulu kunemithetho yendalo, nokuba Onamandla onke akalahlekwa zizinto anokufeza ngazo iinjongo zaKhe. “Njengoko kwaye kuhle ngemihla kaNowa,” “kuya kuba kwanjengoko ngemini atyhileka ngayo uNyana woMntu.” Luka 17:26, 30. “Iya kufika ke imini yeNkosi njengesela ebusuku, eliya kuthi ngayo izulu lidlule liqhuqhumba, zithi ke iziqalelo zitshe, zichithakale, nomhlaba nayo imisebenzi ekuwo itshiswe kuthi tu.” 2 Petros 3:10. Xa ukuzathuza kolwazi kuthe kwagxotha uloyiko lwezigwebo zikaThixo; xa abafundisi benkolo besalatha phambili kwiminyaka yoxolo nempumelelo, nelizwe lithe bhakada kumashishini alo kunye neziyolo, kutyalwa kusakhiwa, kudliwa kusenziwa imigidi yolonwabo, kukhanyelwa izilumkiso zikaThixo kugculelwa nabathunywa baKhe—kungelo xesha kanye eya kuthi ifike intshabalalo ngequbuliso kubo, bangabi nakusinda. 1 Tesalonika 5:3.ANa 104.1