Namuhla, abantu abaningi abanawo ngisho umcabango ophusile noma ulwazi ngoPawulu, okwathi lapho ashaywa iNkosi uJesu, wayesenze isinqumo sokusebenza futhi ahlupheke ngenxa Yayo. UJesu wamnika ukugula, futhi kamuva, uPawulu waqhubeka ehlushwa yilokhu kugula ngesikhathi eqala umsebenzi. Kungani athi uneva enyameni yakhe? Eqinisweni, iva kwakuwukugula kwakhe, futhi kuPawulu kwakuwubuthakathaka obuyingozi. Akunandaba ukuthi wayesebenza kahle kangakanani noma ukuthi wayenqume ukuhlupheka kakhulu kangakanani, wayehlale enalokhu kugula. UPawulu wayekhaliphe kakhulu kunani bantu namuhla; wayengagcini nje ngokuba isihlakaniphi esihle, kodwa futhi wayezihlola futhi wayenengqondo kakhulu kunani. Namuhla, ngale kokufika ezingeni lomqondo likaPawulu—abanye abantu abaningi abakwazi ngisho ukuba nomqondo ofana nokaPawulu. Ngemva kokuba uPawulu eshaywe uJesu, wayeka ukushushisa abafundi, waqala ukushumayela nokuhlupheka ngenxa kaJesu. Kwakugqugquzelwa yini ukuhlupheka kwakhe? UPawulu wayekholelwa ukuthi, njengoba ayebambe ukukhanya okukhulu, kumele anikeze ubufakazi ngeNkosi uJesu, kwakungasamele ashushise abafundi bakaJesu, futhi kwakungasamele amelane nomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kokubona ukukhanya okukhulu, waqala ukuhlupheka ngenxa kaNkulunkulu, nokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu, wenza nesinqumo sakhe. Ngemva kokuba “ukukhanya okukhulu” kukhanyile phambi kwakhe, waqala ukusebenzela uNkulunkulu, futhi wakwazi ukwenza isinqumo sakhe, okwafakazela ukuthi wayenomqondo ohluzekile. Enkolweni, uPawulu wayeyisikhulu esiphakeme kakhulu. Wayenolwazi oluningi futhi enesiphiwo, wayebabukela phansi abantu abaningi, futhi wayenobuntu obunamandla edlula abantu abaningi. Kodwa ngemva kokuba “isibani esikhulu” sikhanye phezu kwakhe, wathi kumele asebenzele iNkosi uJesu—futhi lokhu kwakuwukuhluzeka komqondo wakhe. Ngesikhathi eshushisa abafundi, uJesu wabonakala kuye wathi, “Pawulu, ungishushiselani Mina?” Ngokushesha uPawulu wawa wathi: “Ungubani Wena?” Izwi elivela esibhakabhakeni lathi: “NginguJesu, omshushisayo.” Ngaso leso sikhathi, uPawulu wavuka, waqonda, kungaleso sikhathi kuphela lapho azi khona ukuthi uJesu unguKristu, nokuthi wayenguNkulunkulu. Kumele ngilalele, uNkulunkulu unginike lo musa, nokho ngamshushisa, kodwa akazange angishaye ngiwe, futhi akangiqalekisanga—kumele ngihlupheke ngenxa Yakhe. UPawulu wabona ukuthi wayeshushise iNkosi uJesu Kristu futhi manje wayesebulala abafundi Bakhe, nokuthi uNkulunkulu akamqalekisanga, kodwa wakhanyisa isibani phezu kwakhe; lokhu kwamkhuthaza futhi wathi: “Nakuba ngingabubonanga ubuso Bakhe, ngilizwile izwi Lakhe futhi ngaba nokukhanya Kwakhe okukhulu. Kumanje kuphela lapho ngibona khona ukuthi uNkulunkulu ungithanda ngempela, nokuthi iNkosi uJesu ngempela iyiNkosi enomusa kubantu futhi ithethelela izono zabantu kuze kube phakade. Ngibona ngempela ukuthi ngiyisoni.” Nakuba ngemva kwalokho, uNkulunkulu asebenzisa izipho zikaPawulu ukuze asebenze, khohlwa yilokhu okwesikhashana. Isinqumo sakhe ngaleso sikhathi, ukuhluzeka komqondo wakhe okujwayelekile nokuqapha kwakhe—anikwazi ukufinyelela lezi zinto. Namuhla anitholanga yini ukukhanya okukhulu? Ingabe abantu abaningi abakaboni ukuthi isimo sikaNkulunkulu sinamandla amakhulu, ulaka, isahlulelo kanye nesijeziso? Kukaningi abantu behlelwa iziqalekiso, izilingo futhi becwengwa—futhi yini abayifundile? Ingabe kukhona okuzuze kubafundi bakho nasekusebenzelaneni nabo? Amagama amakhulu, ukushaya okukhulu, nokwahlulelwa kukwehlele izikhathi eziningi, kodwa awukunaki. Awunawo ngisho nomncane umqondo uPawulu ayenawo—awusalele yini emuva kakhulu? Kuningi uPawulu ayengakuboni ngokucacile. Wayazi kuphela ukuthi ukukhanya kwakukhanye phezu kwakhe, kodwa wayengazi ukuthi wayeshayiwe. Enkolelweni yakhe, ngemva kokuba ukukhanya kukhanye phezu kwakhe, kumele azelulele kuNkulunkulu, futhi enze konke ukuze aphendlele iNkosi uJesu Kristu indlela, azuze izoni eziningi ezizohlengwa iNkosi. Lesi kwakuyisinqumo sakhe, futhi kwakuwukuphela kwenhloso yomsebenzi wakhe—kodwa ngesikhathi esebenza, isifo sasingakasuki kuye, kwaze kwaba sekufeni kwakhe. UPawulu wasebenza iminyaka engaphezu kwengama-20. Wahlupheka kakhulu, futhi wabhekana noshushiso oluningi kanye nezinsizi, nakuba empeleni izilingo zakhe zazincane kakhulu kunezikaPetru. Nisesimweni esidabukisa kangakanani uma ningenawo umqondo kaPawulu? Kulokhu, ningawenza kanjani ngisho nomsebenzi omkhulu kini?

Lapho esakaza ivangeli, uPawulu wahlupheka kakhulu. Isinqumo sakhe, umsebenzi awenza, ukholo lwakhe, ubuqotho, uthando, ukubekezela, nokuthobeka ngaleso sikhathi, nezimo eziningi zangaphandle azishiya, kwakuphakeme kunani bantu namuhla. Ukukubeka ngendlela enamandla nakakhulu, aninakho ukuhluzeka komqondo okujwayelekile! Aninawo ngisho unembeza noma ubuntu—kuningi enikuntulayo! Ngakho, isikhathi esiningi, endleleni eniphila ngayo, akukho ukuhluzeka komqondo okujwayelekile okutholakalayo, futhi alukho uphawu lokuzazi. Nakuba uPawulu wayehlushwa ukugula emzimbeni ngaleso sikhathi, wayelokhu ethandaza futhi efuna: Kuyini lokhu kugula—Wonke lo msebenzi ngiwenzele iNkosi, kungani kungangishiyi? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi iNkosi uJesu iyangivivinya? Ingabe ingishayile? Ukube ingishayile, ngabe ngifile manje, ngabe angikwazi ukuyenzela wonke lo msebenzi, futhi ngabe angikutholanga ukukhanya okungaka. Uyasibona nesinqumo sami. UPawulu wayehlale ecabanga ukuthi lesi sifo siyindlela uNkulunkulu amvivinya ngayo, ukuthi sasicindezela ukholo lwakhe namandla akhe—wayecabanga lokho. Eqinisweni, lesi sifo saqala ngesikhathi eshaywa iNkosi uJesu. Samenza wacindezeleka emqondweni, sasusa amandla amaningi esimo sakhe sokuvukela. Uma nizithola nisezimweni zikaPawulu, yini eniyoyenza? Ingabe isinqumo senu siyoba sikhulu kunesikaPawulu? Ingabe nihlupheka kakhulu kunaye? Lapho abantu namuhla bengenwa ukugula okuncane noma behlelwa isilingo esikhulu, ukuhlupheka kwabo kubashiya bekhathazeke kakhulu. Uma benivalelwe ebhokisini lezinyoni nangakhishwa, beningeke nibe nankinga, yonke into eniyidingayo okuwukudla nokuphuzwayo benizoyinikwa. Ukube bekungenjalo beniyofana nezimpisi. Ukuhlupheka okuncane noma ubunzima kuyinto enhle kini; ukube beninikwe isikhathi esincane sakho ngabe seniqulekile, futhi beningavikelwa kanjani? Namuhla, kungenxa yokuthi nijezisiwe, niqalekisiwe, futhi nahlulelwa, yingakho ninikwa isivikelo. Nivikelwa ngenxa yokuthi senihlupheke kakhulu. Ngale kwalokho, umuntu ngabe kudala awela enkohlakalweni. Izinto angizenzi zibe nzima kini ngenhloso—ukwakheka komuntu kunesisekelo esiqinile, futhi isimo sabanye abantu kufanele sishintshwe ngale ndlela. Namuhla, aninawo umqondo ohluzekile noma ukuziqapha njengoPawulu, futhi aninawo unembeza wakhe. Nihlale nifunwa ukufakwa ngaphansi kwengcindezi, futhi nihlale nifuna ukujeziswa nokwahlulelwa ukuze nivuse imimoya yenu. Ukujeziswa nokwahlulela izona zinto ezingcono ekuphileni kwenu. Futhi uma kunesidingo, kumele niphinde nibe yisijeziso sokufika kwamaqiniso; niyozithoba ngokuphelele lapho kuphela. Ngokwendalo yenu ngaphandle kwesijeziso nesiqalekiso, beningeke nivume ukugobisa amakhanda enu, beningeke nizehlise. Ngaphandle kwamaqiniso phambi kwamehlo enu, ubengeke ube bikho umphumela. Niphansi kakhulu futhi anilusizo lwalutho! Ngaphandle kwesijeziso nesahlulelo, bekuyoba nzima ukuthi ninqotshwe, futhi bekuyoba nzima ukuthi kucindezelwe ukungalungi nokungalaleli kwenu. Isimo senu esidala singene sajula. Ukube benibekwe esihlalweni sobukhosi, beningeke nikwazi ukuphakama kwamazulu nokujula komhlaba, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi naniphokophelephi. Anazi nokuthi navela kuphi, ngakho ningamazi kanjani uMdali? Ngaphandle kwesijeziso esenziwe ngesikhathi nesiqalekiso sanamuhla, izinsuku zenu zokugcina ngabe kade zafika. Lokho akusho lutho ngomphumela wenu—akukho yini lokho ngisho engozini enkulu? Ngaphandle kwalesi sijeziso esifika ngesikhathi nesahlulelo, ubani owaziyo ukuthi ngabe inkani yenu isingakanani, ubani owazi ukuthi ngabe senilusizi kangakanani. Lesi sijeziso nesahlulelo sinilethe namuhla, futhi silondoloze ukuba khona kwenu. Ukube “benisafundiswa” ngezindlela ezifana “nezoyihlo,” ubani owaziyo ukuthi beniyongena kuliphi izwe! Alikho ikhono eninalo lokuzilawula futhi nizibheke. Kwanele ngabantu abafana nani, ukumane balandele, balalele, futhi bangagxambukeli noma baphazamise ukuze izinhloso Zami zifezeke. Akufanele yini nenze kangcono ekwamukeleni isijeziso nesahlulelo kwanamuhla? Yikuphi okunye eningakhetha kukho? Lapho uPawulu ebona iNkosi uJesu, wayengakakholwa. Kamuva, ngemva kokuba iNkosi uJesu ibethelwe esiphambanweni, wayelazi leli qiniso, kodwa waqhubeka nokushushisa nokuba yisitha. Yilokhu okushiwo ukona ngamabomu, ngenxa yalokho washaywa. Ekuqaleni, wayazi ukuthi kwakuneNkosi phakathi kwamaJuda eyayibizwa ngoJesu, wayekuzwile lokhu. Kamuva, njengoba ayenikeza izintshumayelo ethempelini futhi eshumayela kulo lonke izwe, wamelana noJesu, futhi wayenqaba ngamabomu ukulandela omunye umuntu. Lezi zinto zaba isithiyo esikhulu emsebenzini wangaleso sikhathi. Ngesikhathi uJesu esebenza, uPawulu akashushisanga ngokuqondile futhi wabopha abantu, kodwa wasebenzisa izintshumayelo namazwi ukuze acekele phansi umsebenzi. Kamuva, lapho iNkosi uJesu Kristu isesiphambanweni, waqala ukubopha abafundi, egijima izindawo futhi enza konke ayengakwenza ukuze abahluphe. Kungemva kokuba “ukukhanya” kukhanye phezu kwakhe kuphela lapho avuka khona futhi wazisola kakhulu. Ngemva kokuba eshayiwe, ukugula kwakhe akuzange kumshiye. Ngezinye izikhathi, wayecabanga ukuthi ukuhlupheka kwakhe kudlondlobala kakhulu futhi wayengasakwazi ukuvuka embhedeni. Wayecabanga: “Kwenzekani? Ingabe ngempela ngishayiwe?” Ukugula akuzange kumshiye, futhi umsebenzi omningi wawenza ngenxa yokugula kwakhe. Kungashiwo ukuthi uJesu wabeka lokhu kugula kuPawulu ngenxa yenkani nokuqhosha kwakhe; kwakuyisijeziso sakhe, kodwa futhi ngenxa yomsebenzi omkhulu kaJesu—uJesu wasebenzisa isiphiwo sikaPawulu emsebenzini Wakhe. Eqinisweni, kwakungeyona inhloso kaJesu ukusindisa uPawulu, kodwa ukumsebenzisa. Nokho, isimo sikaPawulu sasiphikelela kakhulu, futhi ngalokho kwabekwa “iva” kuye. Baningi kini abafana noPawulu, kodwa uma ninaso ngempela isinqumo sokulandela kuze kube sekugcineni, ngeke niphathwe kabi. Ekugcineni, ngesikhathi uPawulu aqeda ngaso umsebenzi wakhe, ukugula kwakungasamhluphi kakhulu, futhi lapho umsebenzi wakhe usuphela, wakwazi ukusho amazwi athi, “Ngikulwile ukulwa okuhle, ngiyiqedile inkambo yami, ngilugcinile ukholo: Kusuka manje ngibekelwe umqhele wokulunga”—okuyinto ayisho ngoba wayengazi. Ngeke sikhulume ngenye into, ake sigxile engxenyeni enhle kuye nencomekayo: Wayenonembeza, futhi ngemva kokuba ukukhanya kukhanye phezu kwakhe wazinikela kuNkulunkulu, wahlupheka ngenxa kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwemvelo, lolu uhlangothi lwakhe oluncomekayo, lawa kwakungamandla akhe. Ngeke sikhulume ngendlela avukela futhi waphikisa ngayo; sizogxila ekukhulumeni ngokuhluzeka komqondo wakhe komuntu ojwayelekile, nokuthi wayezazi yini noma cha. Uma kunalabo abakholelwa yilokho, ngenxa yokuthi wayenamandla, lokhu kufakazela ukuthi wayengumuntu owayebusisiwe, owayekholelwa ukuthi empeleni wayengahlulelwe, nokuthi lawa kwakungamazwi abantu abangenangqondo.

Lapho bethandaza futhi befunda amazwi kaNkulunkulu, abantu abaningi bazimisele ukuthobela uNkulunkulu, kodwa bese bekhohlakala uma sebesekusithekeni, bangabi nandaba nakho. Amazwi kaNkulunkulu akhulunywa izikhathi eziningi, embula isiqephu nesiqephu, kuze kwembuleke isiqephu sokugcina esingezansi ekugcineni, “bathola ukuthula,” bengaba besabanga ezinye izinkinga. Ngokwezimo zenu njengoba zinjalo namuhla, kumele nihlaselwe kabuhlungu futhi nembulwe, nahlulelwe kungashiywa lutho, ngezinga lokuthi ningakwazi ngisho nokuphefumula. Kumele nihlale nishaywa futhi nivezwa obala, futhi kini kubonakala sengathi ukusolwa akulokothi kuhlukane nani, leso siqalekiso, naso asilokothi sidede kini, ngisho nesahlulelo esibuhlungu, nivunyelwe ukuba nibone ukuthi imiyalo yesandla sikaNkulunkulu esiqondisayo ayilokothi isuke kini. Lokhu kungcono, kunjengalapho u-Aroni ebona ukuthi uJehova akazange amshiye. (Kodwa akubona kwakuyinsindiso nesivikelo sikaJehova esingayi ndawo; isiqondiso osibona namuhla siwukusola, isiqalekiso, nesahlulelo.) Namuhla, isandla semiyalo kaJehova eqondisayo nani asinishiyi, kodwa kunento eyodwa “eningakhululeka” ngayo: Akunandaba ukuthi niphikisa kangakanani, nidlubulunda, futhi nephula izahlulelo, ngeke nilimale enyameni yenu. Kodwa kunabantu abahamba ibanga elide ekuphikiseni kwabo, okuyinto engamukeleki; kunomngcele, futhi akwamukeleki ngani ukuphazamisa umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Namuhla, ningakhuluma futhi nenze ngaphandle kwemiphumela engemihle—kodwa ningakuphazamisa ukuphila kwebandla, ningawuphazamisi umsebenzi woMoya Oyingcwele. Kokunye, ningenza enikufunayo. Nithi ngeke nilwele ukuphila bese nifuna ukubuyela ezweni. Ngakho phuthumani nihambe! Ningenza noma yini eniyifisayo, uma nje kungawuphazamisi umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Kodwa kunento eyodwa okumele niyazi: Ekugcineni, izoni ezinjalo ezona ngabomu zizoqothulwa. Nokho namuhla, anigxekwa. Ekugcineni, idlanzana labantu kuphela eliyonikeza ubufakazi—abanye bayoba sengozini. Uma ungafuni ukuba kulo mfula, kulungile. Abantu banamuhla baphathwa ngesineke; angikubekeli imikhawulo uma nje ungakwesabi ukusola kwakusasa. Kodwa uma ukulo mfula, kumele unikeze ubufakazi, futhi kumele usolwe. Uma uthi ngeke usakwazi ukukubekezelela, futhi ufisa ukushaywa umoya, kulungile—akekho okuvimbayo! Kodwa ngeke ngikuvumele ukuba wenze umsebenzi obhubhisayo futhi owenza umsebenzi woMoya Ongcwele ungahleleki—kalula nje ngeke uthethelelwe ngalokho! Ngokwalokho amehlo akho akubonayo nezindlebe zakho ezikuzwayo, abantu abasolwayo, nemindeni yabo eqalekisiwe—kunemingcele nemikhawuko kulokhu. UMoya Ongcwele awuzenzi kalula izinto. Ngenxa yezono zomuntu nakho konke enikwenzile, ukube bekudingeka niphathwe futhi ningathathwa kancane ngokuvumelana nokungalungi kwenu, ubani kini obengasinda? Nonke beniyokwehlelwa yinhlekelele, futhi akekho kinina obeyophetha kahle. Kodwa namuhla, abantu abaningi bayabekezelelwa. Nakuba wahlulela, udlubulunda, futhi uphikisa, inqobo nje uma ungaphazamisi, khona-ke ngiyobhekana nawe ngimomotheka. Uma ukulwela ngempela ukuphila, khona-ke kumele ubhekane nokusolwa kancane, kumele ubekezele, kumele ubekezelele ubuhlungu bokuhlukana nalokho okuthandayo uye etafuleni lokuhlinzwa, kumele ubekezelele ubuhlungu, wamukele izilingo nokuhlupheka njengoPetru. Namuhla, niphambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela. Esikhathini esizayo, kumele niye “emshinini okubulawa kuwo abantu,” okuyilapho nizozinikela khona.

Phakathi nesigaba sokugcina somsebenzi wezinsuku zokugcina, nonke kumele nazi ukuthi ningakholelwa ekutheni uNkulunkulu ngeke ayiqothule inyama yenu, futhi kungashiwo ukuthi ngeke niphathwe yinoma ikuphi ukugula nakuba nimelana Naye futhi nimahlulela—kodwa lapho amazwi kaNkulunkulu amakhulu ehlela phezu kwenu, lapho ukuhlubuka nokuphikisa kwenu nobuso benu obubi kubekwa obala, ngeke nikwazi ukucasha, niyokwethuka futhi nidideke. Namuhla, kumele nibe nawo unembeza omncane. Ningabi yilabo abaphikisana futhi badlubulunde kuNkulunkulu, ningabi ababi. Kufanele nifulathele okhokho benu abadala; yilokhu kuphela okubonisa ukuthi ninesiqu seqiniso, kanye nalobu buntu okufanele nibe nabo. Nihlale ningakwazi ukubeka eceleni amathemba enu noma izinjabulo zanamuhla. UNkulunkulu uthi: Uma nje nenza konke eningakwenza ukuze ningilandele, nakanjani ngizonenza niphelele. Ngemva kokupheleliswa kwenu, kumele kube namathemba amahle—niyolethwa embusweni Wami ukuze nijabulele izibusiso Nami. Ninesiphetho, kodwa izimfuno zenu azilokothi zinciphe. Kuphinde kube nesimo: Kule ndawo, akunandaba ukuthi nizonqotshwa noma nizokwenziwa niphelele, namhlanje kumele nidluliswe ekusolweni okuthile, nasekuhluphekeni okuthile, kumele nithandwe, niyalwe, kumele nilalele amazwi Ami, nilandele indlela Yami, futhi nifeze intando kaNkulunkulu—yilokhu okufanele nina bantu nikwenze. Akunandaba ukuthi nilwa kanjani, kumele nizwe ngokucacile ngale ndlela. Uma ubone ngempela futhi ngobuqotho, khona-ke ungaqhubeka ulandela. Uma ukholelwa ngempela ukuthi akunamathemba lapha, ungahamba. La mazwi akhulunywe ngokucacile kuwe, kodwa uma ufisa ngempela ukuhamba, lokho kusho ukuthi awunawo nomncane unembeza; lesi senzo sakho sanele ukufakazela ukuthi uyidemoni. Nakuba uthi konke kufanele kushiyelwe kuNkulunkulu, ngenxa yalokhu okuphilayo, nenyama yakho, usaphila ngaphansi kokubusa kukaSathane. Nakuba uSathane futhi esezandleni zikaNkulunkulu, wena uqobo lwakho ungokaSathane, futhi yima kusafanele usindiswe uNkulunkulu, ngoba usaphila ngaphansi kwethonya likaSathane. Kufanele ulwe kanjani ukuze usindiswe ngokuphelele? Uwena okhethayo: Ungabaleka, ungandiza, ungaya nomaphi la ofuna ukuya khona, kuncike kuwe—kufanele ukhethe indlela okufanele uyithathe. Ekugcineni, uma ungathi: Anginalutho olungcono, uthando lukaNkulunkulu ngilubuyisa ngonembeza wami, futhi kumele ngibe nobuntu obuncane. Ngeke ngifeze lutho olukhulu, nokukhalipha kwami akuphakeme; ngiyaqonda ukuthi akuyona imibono nencazelo yomsebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ngimane ngibuyisa uthando lukaNkulunkulu, ngenza noma yini uNkulunkulu ayicelayo, ngenza konke engingakwenza—ngenza umsebenzi wami njengesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu—futhi ngale ndlela, ngizwa induduzo. Lobu ubufakazi obukhulu kunabo bonke ongabunikeza. Leli izinga eliphakeme elidingeka engxenyeni yabantu: ukwenza umsebenzi wesidalwa sikaNkulunkulu. Kumele wenze okuningi ongakwazi ukukwenza. Izinto uNkulunkulu azifuna kuwe aziphakeme kakhulu; uma nje wenza okusemandleni akho, khona-ke lana unikeza ubufakazi.