U-INOGO waphila iminyaka engangeminyaka! Esikhathini esiphila kiswesi kungaba budisi ukukucabanga lokho kodwana u-Inogo waphila iminyaka ema-365. Ngokuya ngokwendlela esibala ngayo namhlanjesi lokhu kungaba kuphila kwabantu abane! Bekangakaluphali okunjalo nokho. Eminyakeni engaba ma-500 eyadlulako, abantu bebaphila isikhathi eside ukudlula namhlanjesi. U-Adamu indoda yokuthoma besele aphile iminyaka engaphezu kwemakhulu asithandathu nakubelethwa u-Inogo, kwathi nasekabelethiwe waphila eminye godu iminyaka engaba makhulu amathathu. Ezinye iinzukulwana zakhe zaphila iminyaka eminengi ukudlula leyo. Yeke singatjho ukuthi ngesikhathi u-Inogo aneminyaka ema-365 bekangakaluphali okunjalo, bekangaphila ukudlula lapho. Kodwana azange kube njalo.

U-Inogo bekazingelwa kukufa. Akhesumcabange abaleka, alinga nokulibala indlela abantu ebebasebela ngayo emlayezweni abatjela wona obuya kuZimu. Indlela ebebasilingeke ngayo bewuyibona ebusweni babo. Bebamhloye tle u-Inogo! Bewubasilinga umlayezwakhe begodu banyefula noZimu omthumileko. Ngebanga lokungakghoni ukulwisana noZimu ka-Inogo uJehova, abantwabo banyekele bazingela u-Inogo bamfuna afile. Kungenzeka u-Inogo wazibuza ukuthi uzakhe awubone godu umndenakhe na. Kghani wacabanga ngomkakhe, indodakazakhe namkha indodanakhe uMatutjhelarhi nomzukulwakhe uLemeki. (Genesisi 5:21-23, 25) Kazi lokho bekutjho ukuphela kwakhe na?

U-Inogo mumuntu okungakhulunywa ngaye khulu eBhayibhelini. Ziindatjana ezifitjhani ezintathu kwaphela ezikhuluma ngaye. (Genesisi 5:21-24; Hebheru 11:5; Juda 14, 15) Kodwana iindatjana ezintathwezo zikubekala indaba uyizwisise kuhle ngokukholwa kwakhe. Wena uyawutlhogomela na wakho umndeni? Wakhe wazifumana uqalene nesitjhijilo sokwenza into owazi kuhle bona ilungile? Nakunjalo ungafunda okunengi ngokukholwa kwaka-Inogo.

Ukuphila kwabantu bekutjharagene nakuzakufika u-Inogo. Ngesikhatheso bekuphila isizukulwana saka-Adamu sekhomba. Abantu bebaseseseduze nokuphelela, u-Adamu no-Eva abakhe baba nakho. Kungebangelo abantu bangesikhatheso bebaphila isikhathi eside kangaka. Kodwana nanyana kunjalo indlela yabo yokuziphatha netjhebiswano labo noZimu bekusengozini tle. Inturhu besele kukudla kwabo. Itlharhararha leyo yathoma ngesikhathi uKhayini abulala umfowabo u-Abela. Omunye umzukulu kaKhayini wabonakala kumkara ukuba nenturhu, yena-ke wenza wadlulela! Isizukulu sesithathu sona senza seqisa endabeni yenturhu. Abantu besebamane babiza ibizo lakaJehova ingasi ngombana bamlotjha. Besele balidelela ibizo lakaJehova balinyefule.—Genesisi 4:8, 23-26.

Indelelo leyo besele kuyinto ejayelekileko ngeenkhathi zaka-Inogo. Njengombana u-Inogo akhula nje, kwamkosa bona athathe isiqunto. Kghani bekazokukhetha ukwamukeleka na emphakathini loyo? Namkha bekazokufuna ukulotjha uZimu weqiniso uJehova, owadala izulu nephasi? Kungenzeka kwamthinta ukufunda ngo-Abela, owahlongakala ngebanga  lokulotjha uJehova ngendlela emthabisako. U-Inogo wakhetha ukulandela isibonelo saka-Abela. UGenesisi 5:22 uthi: “U-Inogo wakhamba noZimu weqiniso, NW.” Ikulumo le itjengisa bona u-Inogo wahluka emphakathini ongamhloniphi uZimu. Nguye umuntu wokuthoma iBhayibheli elimhlathulula ngendlela le.

Iveseli naliragako litjengisa bona u-Inogo waraga nokukhamba noJehova nangemva kokuba nendodana uMetutjhelarhi. Yeke u-Inogo waba yihloko yomuzi nakaneminyaka ema-65. Bekanomfazi kodwana ibizo lakhe alikatlolwa eBhayibhelini, begodu bekanamadodana namadodakazi nawo okungakhulunywa ngawo. Ihloko yomndeni nayizakukhamba noZimu khisibe ngapha inakekela umndenayo kufuze iwunakekele ngendlela kaZimu. U-Inogo bekazi bona uJehova ufuna athembeke kumkakhe begodu amnamathele. (Genesisi 2:24) Kodwana siyaqiniseka bona wasebenza ngamandla ekufundiseni abantwana bakhe ngoJehova uZimu. Lokho kwaba namuphi umphumela?

IBhayibheli alikubeki ebaleni lokho. Alikhulumi ngokukholwa kwendodana ka-Inogo uMetutjhelarhi. Indodana ka-Inogo le ngiyo eyaphila iminyaka eminengi khulu emlandweni weBhayibheli, yaphila bekwaba mnyaka womThwalela. UMetutjhelarhi waba nendodana okunguLemeki. Bese kwathi uLemeki waphila iminyaka edlula kamkhulwakhe u-Inogo. Waba nokukholwa okubukwako. UJehova wamtjela ukuthi alandise isiphorofido ngoNowa, indodana kaLemeki, isiphorofidweso sazaliseka ngemva komThwalela. UNowa, njengomkhulwakhe u-Inogo, naye wakhethwa njengomuntu owakhamba noZimu. UNowa no-Inogo abazani. Kodwana esingakutjho kukuthi u-Inogo wahlahla indlela. Kungenzeka uNowa wezwa ngomlando kayise, namkha kungenzeka wezwa ngomkhulwakhe uMetutjherarhi nofana kungenzeka wezwa ngoJeredi ubaba ka-Inogo owahlongakala uNowa nakaneminyaka ema-366.—Genesisi 5:25-29; 6:9; 9:1.

Cabanga indlela u-Inogo no-Adamu abahluke ngayo. Ngitjho nanyana u-Adamu bekamumuntu onganasono, wonela uJehova, watjhiyela isizukulwana sakhe ilifa lokuba ziinhlubuki. Bese kuthi u-Inogo nanyana yena bekamumuntu onesono, wakhamba noZimu watjhiyela isizukulwana sakhe ilifa lokukholwa. U-Adamu wafa u-Inogo nakaneminyaka ema-308. Inga-kghani iinzukulwana zaka-Adamu zezwa ubuhlungu ngokuhlongakala kwakakhokho wazo olihlongandlebe? Ayaziwa ipendulo. Nanyana singayazi njalo, esikwaziko kukuthi u-Inogo “waraga nokukhamba noZimu weqiniso.”—Genesisi 5:24, NW.

Nakhibe utlhogomela umndenakho, akhutjheje bona yini ongayifunda ekukholweni kwaka-Inogo. Kuqakathekile ukutlhogomela umndenakho ngezinto ezondla umzimba, kodwana ayikho into eqakatheke ukudlula ukondla umndenakho ngezinto zakaZimu. (1 Thimothi 5:8) Lokho kuzokubonakala ngezenzo zakho. Nawukhetha ukukhamba noJehova njengo-Inogo, uvumele ukunqotjhiswa ziinkambiso zakaZimu, nawe uzokutjhiyela umndenakho ilifa elihle. U-Inogo usibonelo esihle esingasilingisa.

Kungenzeka bona u-Inogo bekhe abe nesizungu njengombana bekaphila ephasini elizele abantu  abangamhloniphiko uJehova. UJehova wayingena na indabakhe? Iye. Kwafika ilanga la uJehova akhuluma khona nencekwakhe. Wathuma u-Inogo bona ayokutjela abantu umlayezo. Wenza u-Inogo umphorofidi, nguye umuntu wokuthoma umlayezwakhe okwatlolwa ngawo eBhayibhelini. Lokho sikwazi ngebanga lokobana uJuda, umfowabo kaJesu ngombelethi munye, ummoya wamrhola bona atlole ngesiphorofido saka-Inogo esakhulunywa emakhulwini weminyaka kamuva. *

Besikhuluma ngani isiphorofido saka-Inogo? Besithi: “Qalani, [“uJehova,” NW] uza nebakhe abacwengileko abamatjhumi weenkulungwana, uzokugweba boke, abe ahlunguphaze boke abangakholwako ngazo zoke izenzo zabo zokungakholwa abazenzileko ngendlela yokungakholwa kwabo, iye, nangamezwi anamadinyana abawakhuluma ngokunyefula.” (Juda 14, 15) Kokuthoma okungenzeka uyakutjheja kukuthi u-Inogo ukhuluma ngesenzakalwesi njengento uZimu esele ayenzile. Iimphorofido ezinengi nazo zalandela bunjalo. Singayihlathulula bunje indaba le: Isiphorofidwesi sikhuluma ngento engakenzeki kodwana okunesiqinisekiso sokuthi izokwenzeka kangangobana kukhulunywa ngayo ngasuthi seyenzekile!—Isaya 46:10.

Bekunjani ku-Inogo ukutjela abantu ngesiphorofidwesi? Akhutjheje bona umlayezo wakhona bewunamandla kangangani, ulisebenzise kane igama elithi “ukungakholwa” elinyefula izenzo zabantwabo. Isiphorofidwesi satjela abantu bona iphasi elaba khona kusukela e-Edeni besele lilimbi tle! Iphaselo belizokubhujiswa. UJehova bekazokuza ‘neenkulungwana zabacwengileko’ okuziingilozi zakhe, kubhujiswe iphasi. U-Inogo waba nesibindi watjela abantu ngomlayezo lo, lokho wakwenza ayedwa. Kungenzeka uLemeki ebekasesemncani ngesikhatheso bekumthabisa ukubona indlela umkhulwakhe anesibindi ngayo. Lokho-ke kusenza siyizwisise kuhle indaba le.

Nasicabanga ngokukholwa kwaka-Inogo singatjhukumiseleka bona sizibuze ukuthi, iphaseli siliqala ngendlela uZimu aliqala ngayo na. Isahlulelo u-Inogo asitjhumayela, sisasithinta nathi namhlanjesi. UJehova wenza ngokuvumelana nesiyeleliso saka-Inogo waletha umThwalela owabhubhisa abantu abangamhloniphiko uZimu ngesikhathi sakaNowa. Kodwana ukubhujiswokho bekubuye kutjengise indlela imbubhiso ekulu ezokwenzeka ngayo. (Matewu 24:38, 39; 2 Pitrosi 2:4-6) Nanamhlanjesi uZimu neenkulungwana zeengilozi zakhe bazokuletha isahlulelo ebantwini abangamhloniphiko uZimu. Kufuze sisithathele ehloko isiyeleliso saka-Inogo begodu sitjele nabanye ngaso. Kungenzeka abangani neenhlobo zethu baphikisane nathi. Ngasikhathi singazizwa sinesizungu. Kodwana uJehova azange amlahle u-Inogo, yeke nanamhlanjesi angekhe azilahle iinceku zakhe ezithembekileko.

Saba yini isiphetho saka-Inogo? Ukufa kwakhe kwaba yinto engakavami ukudlula ukuphila kwakhe. Umlando okuGenesisi nawuyibeka ngobulula indaba le uthi: “U-Inogo gade atjhidelene noZimu; akhange abe asabonwa ngombana uZimu wamhlwitha ebantwini.” (Genesisi 5:24) UZimu wamhlwitha njani u-Inogo? Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi umpostoli uPowula wahlathulula wathi: “Ngokukholwa u-Inogo wenyuswa ukuze angaboni ukufa. Akazange asabonwa ngombana uZimu gade asele amthethe. Nje-ke ufakazelwa bonyana angakathathwa bekathokozise uZimu.” (Hebheru 11:5) UPowula bekatjho ukuthini nakathi “wenyuswa ukuze angaboni ukufa”? Amanye amaBhayibheli athi uZimu wathatha u-Inogo wamusa ezulwini. Kodwana angekhe kwaba njalo,  ngombana iBhayibheli lithi uJesu Krestu nguye wokuthoma owavuselwa ezulwini.—Jwanisi 3:13.

Yeke kutjho ukuthini ukuthi u-Inogo “wanyuswa” bona “angaboni ukufa”? Kungenzeka uJehova wenyusela u-Inogo ekufeni ngebanga lokobana angezwa ubuhlungu bokufa. Kodwana ngaphambi kobana lokho kwenzeke, u-Inogo wabubona ubufakazi bokuthi ‘uthokozise uZimu.’ Kubayini sitjho njalo? Kungombana ngaphambi kobana ahlongakale kungenzeka bona u-Inogo wabona umbono ovela kuZimu, wephasi eliyipharadesi. Lokho kwamnqinisekisa bona uthabise uZimu, walala, wahlongakala. Umpostoli uPowula nakatlola ngo-Inogo nezinye iinceku zakaZimu ezithembekileko wathi: “Boke laba bafa basekukholweni.” (Hebheru 11:13) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi umndenakhe kungenzeka wafuna isidumbu sakhe, kodwana ‘azange usithole.’ Kungenzeka uJehova wasifihla bona abangasisebenzisi kumbi namkha basisebenzisele ukulotjha abosingazimu. *

Ngokwehlathululo yemiTlolo, akhesicabange ukuthi saba njani isiphetho saka-Inogo. Cabanga nganasi isenzakalo, kodwana ukhumbule ukuthi kilokhu sithi kungenzeka. U-Inogo bekabaleka, adiniwe. Abantu abamphikisako bebangemva kwakhe, basilingwe mlayezwakhe wesahlulelo. U-Inogo wafumana indawo yokuzifihla waphumula kancani lapho, kodwana bekazi ukuthi angeze azifihla unomphela lapho. Bekazingelwa kukufa. Njengombana asaphumulile njalo, wathandaza kuZimu. Wafumana ukuthula. Kulapho abona khona umbono, kwaba ngasuthi vele ulapho.

Akhucabange nangombono awubonako, iphasi elihlukileko kileli yena alaziko. Labonakala lilihle njengesimu ye-Edeni, kodwana bezingekho iingilozi ezivimbe abantu ukuthi bangangeni. Bekunamadoda nabafazi abanepilo namandla wobutjha begodu bebabanengi. Bebanokuthula. Bekunganahloyo namkha ukuphikisana ngekolo ebekuyinto u-Inogo ayaziko ephasini aphila kilo. Ngikho lokho okwenza u-Inogo wabona ukuthi uZimu uyamthanda nokuthi uyamamukela. Waqiniseka bona indawo le, likhaya lakhe. Njengombana sele afumene ukuthula nje, wavala amehlo walala ubuthongo obunganamabhudango.

Walala bekwaba kunamhlanjesi, wahlongakala, kodwana usemkhumbulweni kaJehova uZimu. Njengombana uJesu athembisa, boke labo abasemkhumbulweni kaZimu bazokuzwa ilizwi lakaKrestu bavuke emalibeni, bavule amehlwabo babone iphasi elitjha elihle, nelinokuthula.—Jwanisi 5:28, 29.

Ungathanda na ukuba lapho? Akhucabange sewuhlangana no-Inogo, ucabange nangezinto ezikarisako azositjela zona. Uzosihlathululela nokuthi indlela esicabanga ukuthi wafa ngayo injengombana siyicabanga na. Kodwana kukhona ekufuze sikufunde kuye nje. Ngemva kokukhuluma ngo-Inogo uPowula waraga nokuthi: “Ngaphandle kokukholwa akwenzeki ukumthokozisa uZimu.” (Hebheru 11:6) Leso sizathu esihle tle sokuthi sifune ukulingisa indoda enesibindi le u-Inogo!