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Bible Study Course

God's Master Plan

Discover the Bible’s central message. Study material in English and Zulu.



Zulu

ICEBO LIKANKULUNKULU ELIKHULU | ISIGABA 05

Westville - South Africa / www.coptrust.org.za

UBANI OYISIKHIYE SENCEBO ELIKHULU?


5.1 INHLOSO

Inhloso yalesi sigaba ukuzwisisa ukuthi ubani oyisikhiye seCebo Elikhulu. Sesivele siwabonile amacebiso anamandla akhombisa ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyisikhiye seCebo Elikhulu. Lesi sigaba sizogxila kakhulu kuJesu nokuthi kungani thina simdinga ukuze sibe nengxenye eCebeni Elikhulu. Sizobona nokuthi umuntu owaphila eminyakeni eyizi-2000 eyedlule unobuhlobo buni nathi ezimpilweni zethu namuhla. Sizobona futhi ukuthi kungani kwakumele uJesu afe, nokuthi lesi senzo sasilindisa kanjani isizwe somuntu futhi sisingenise kanjani ekubeni yingxenye yeCebo Likankulunkulu Elikhulu.

5.2 ISIFINGQO

Lesi sigaba simayelana neSikhiye seCebo likaNkulunkulu Elikhulu. Sizomane siqale ngokubuyela emuva ezithembisweni esazibheka esigabeni sesi-2. Sizobona ukuthi inzalo ekhethekile yathenjiswa kusukela kwasekuqaleni. Sizofunda ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyileyzo nzalo ekhethekile futhi uyisixazululo senkinga. ISivumelwano Somdala sigcwele izithunzi ezikhombisa yena nomhlatshelo wakhe. Sizobona ukuthi kungani uJesu kwakumele abe noNkulunkulu njengoYise, noMariya (umuntu) njengomama wakhe. Ekugcineni sizobheka ukuthi kungani uJesu kwakumele afe nokuthi lokhu kusho ukuthini kithi.

5.3 INGXOXO

5.3.1 Ukubuyela Ezithembisweni

Esigabeni soku-1 sabheka uchungechunge lwezithembiso ezikhethekile uNkulunkulu azenza kubantu abathembekile basendulo. Lezi zithembiso zikhombisa indlela uNkulunkulu azimisele ngayo ukwenza ukuba iCebo lakhe Elikhulu lenzeke. Sabona ukuthi kwakukhulunywa ngezwi elikhethekile elithi “inzalo”. Ubani le nzalo eyathenjiswa? Ake sibuyele emuva kanye kwasekuqaleni esithembisweni sokuqala sethemba uNkulunkulu azala ukusenza. Sithola ngisho nakulesi sithembiso sokuqala inkomba emayelana “nenzalo”; “Ngizobeka ubutha phakathi kwakho nawona owesifazane, naphakathi kwenzalo yakho nenzalo yakhe; yona iyochoboza ikhanda lakho, wena uyolimaza isithende sayo.” (Genesise 3:15). Lapha sinesithembiso senzalo yowesifazane nenzalo yenyoka. Isithembiso sithi ngolunye usuku inzalo yowesifazane iyobulala inzalo yenyoka, kanti kuleyo nqubo iyothola ukulimala okwesikhashana. Ake sizikhumbuze ngezithembiso ezimbili esazibheka phambilini. Kulokhu sizobheka isithembiso esiqondile senzalo.

Ake usisondle iso lakho kuGenesise 22:17-18. Lapha uNkulunkulu ukhuluma ngokucacile ngenzalo eyathenjiswa. Le nzalo izodla amasango ezitha zayo — lokhu kuzwakala kufana nalokho esikufunde kuGenesise 3:15. Kuthiwani ngezithembiso ezaziya kuDavide — sithola inzalo nakulezi zithembiso na? Impela sithola — bheka u-2 Samuweli 7:12. UNkulunkulu uthembisa uDavide inzalo eyobusa phakade esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaDavide. Into eyodwa eqinisekile — le nzalo iyisikhiye sezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu. Futhi uma iyisikhiye sezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu, khona-ke iyisikhiye impela seCebo likaNkulunkulu Elikhulu. Pho-ke, ubani le nzalo?

5.3.2 Ubani Inzalo?

Impendulo yalo mbuzo isunguleke kahle kakhulu kwiThestamente Elisha. Izinkomba ezimbili zisinika ubufakazi obanele bokwenza iziphetho. LUKA 1:32-34 - Kulesi siqephu ingelosi uGabriyeli ikubeka kucace ukuthi uJesu Kristu uyinzalo eyathenjiswa kaDavide. Ungase uthi, kanti lokho kusho ukuthi na yena uyinzalo eyathenjiswa u-Abrahama na?

Mhlawumbe zazihlukile. UPawulu uyaqinisekisa ukuthi uJesu futhi uyinzalo eyathenjiswa ezithembisweni zika-Abrahama.

“Izithembiso-ke zakhulunywa kuye u-Abrahama nakuyo inzalo yakhe. Akashongo ukuthi: ‘Kuzo izinzalo,’ njengokungathi ukhuluma ngeziningi, kodwa njengalokhu ekhuluma ngezwi elilodwa ethi: ‘Kuyo inzalo yakho,’ enguKristu.” (Galathiya 3:16)

Kulesi siqephu uPawulu ukubeka kucace ukuthi inzalo eyathenjiswa u-Abrahama yayinguJesu Kristu impela. Ngeke kwacaciswa ngaphezu kwalesi sikhumbuzo salo mavesi.

Isiphetho sithi uJesu Kristu uyinzalo eyathenjiswa futhi uyisikhiye seCebo likaNkulunkulu Elikhulu.

5.3.3 Kungani Simdinga uJesu?

Impendulo ilula kakhulu. Ngaphandle kukaJesu ngeke sibuyisane noNkulunkulu. Isono sisehlukanisa noNkulunkulu. Bheka ukuthi sithini umprofethi u-Isaya; “Bheka, isandla sikaJehova asisifushane ukuba singasindisi, nendlebe yakhe ayisiyona eyisithulu ukuba ingezwa; kepha iziphambeko zenu ziyanahlukanisa noNkulunkulu wenu, nezono zenu zifihlile ubuso bakhe kini ukuba angezwa” (Isaya 59:1,2). Sidinga ukuba isono sisuswe ukuze sibuyisane noNkulunkulu. Lo kwakungu msebenti obaluleke kakhulu kaJesu Kristu. Ingelosi uGabriyeli yaqinisekisa lokhu lapho iyala uMariya ukuba amuphe igama elithi Jesu, ngoba “uyakubasindisa abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo” (Mathewu 1:21, uJohane 3:16-17).

5.3.4 UJesu Angasindisa Kanjani Ezonweni Zethu?

IBhayibheli likubeka kucace ukuthi ngomhlatshelo wakhe esiphambanweni uJesu wasisindisa esonweni. Ake sisondele sibheke ukuthi lokhu kwenzeka kanjani. Ake siqale kwasekuqaleni. U-Adamu no-Eva: Lapho u-Adamu no-Eva bona, babona ukuthi baze, bathunga amaqabi omkhiwane ukuba bazenzele izivunulo (Genesise 3:7). Kodwa uNkulunkulu akazange aneliswe yilezi zivunulo, futhi Wabenzela izembatho zezikhumba, wabagqokisa zona (Genesise 3:21). Yini eyenza izikhumba zamukeleke kanti amaqabi omkhiwane cha? Impela zombili zazihlanganisa ubuze babo? Kwakukhona umehluko owawubalulekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Isivunulo sesikhumba sasidinga ‘ukufa’ kanye ‘nokuchitheka kwegazi’ (AmaHebheru 9:22). U-Adamu no-Eva babona ukuthi ukuthethelelwa kwesono kubiza impilo yesilwane. Lokhu kwakukhombisa ukubethelwa kukaJesu phambili; ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezonikeza isivunulo sesono, ngokufa nangokuchitheka kwegazi. Kubalulekile kithi ukuba sikhumbule ukuthi umphumela wesono ukufa, kanti ukuthethelelwa kwesono kubize ukufa kweNkosi uJesu Kristu.

Umthetho kaMose

Abantu bakwa-Israel kwakumele banikele ngeminikelo yesono neyecala (Levitikusi 1-7). Lezi kwakumele kube yizilwane, kungaba ngunqama noma inkunzi engenasici. Umuntu onikelayo kwakumele abeke izandla zakhe phezu kwesilwane lapho sibulawa (Levitikusi 4:4). Ngokwenza lokho babevuma icala labo, futhi isilwane siba ngumhlatshelo wezono zabo.

Lokhu kwakukhombisa phambili umhlatshelo ophelele kaJesu. Isilwane sasingenaso isici emzimbeni, kanti uJesu wayengenaso isici sokuziphatha. Onikelayo kwakumele ahlanganyele nomhlatshelo ukuze ube yindlela ephumelelayo yokuthethelelwa. Kumele sizihlanganise obala (ngobhapathizo — bheka Isigaba 7) nokufa kukaJesu ukuze sikhweshwe ngomhlatshelo wakhe futhi sithole ukuthethelelwa kwezono zethu (Roma 6:3-14).

“Ngoba umholo wesono ungukufa, kepha isipho somusa sikaNkulunkulu ngukuphila okuphandle kuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.” (Roma 6:23)
Kungani kwakukhona umthetho?

Ungase ubuze ukuthi kungani uNkulunkulu adlula kule nqubo yokumisa umthetho kaMose (iThestamente Elidala)? Kungani umlando wesizwe somuntu ungazange uqale ngenyoni nangeNkosi uJesu Kristu nokubethelwa kwakhe ngezono zethu? Ukuphendula lo mbuzo ake sithathe isibonelo esaziwayo. Uma uzama ukuxazulula imfihlakalo ethile, awusoze wayazisa inkinga uma utshelwa isixazululo ngokushesha. Kulapho kuphela usubambane nemfihlakalo izinsuku eziningi lapho uzozwisisa khona ngokugcwele incazelo yesixazululo lapho sembulwa kuwe.

Kunjalo nange mthetho. Ukhona ukuba usenze sibone ukuthi siyizoni (Roma 7:13; Galathiya 3:19) nokuthi sidinga isixazululo seNkosi uJesu Kristu. “Kanjalo umthetho ube ngumbambi wezandla wethu wokusiyisa kuKristu ukuba silungisiswe ngokholo” (Galathiya 3:24). Ngaphandle komthetho besingeke sibe nethuba lokubona isimo sethu sangempela phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

UJesu Kristu — isivunulo sesono?

Ngakho-ke siyabona ezigabeni ezintathu ezidlule ukuthi umhlatshelo wawudingeka ukuze kutholakale ukuthethelelwa kwezono. Kukhanya kucacile ukuthi imihlatshelo yeThestamente Elidala yayikhombisa phambili ukubethelwa kukaJesu Kristu. “Kepha manje ubonakalisiwe kanye kuphela ngasekupheleni kwezikhathi ukuba asuse isono ngomhlatshelowakhe... kanjalo noKristu, enikelwe kanye ukuba athwale izono zabaningi”. (AmaHebheru 9:26,28). Ukubethelwa kukaKristu kumele umhlatshelo ophelele nokuchitheka kwegazi okukwazi ukususa izono zabaningi.

5.3.5 Kungani uJesu kwakumele abe yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu neNdodana yoMuntu kokubili?

INdodana kaNkulunkulu

UNkulunkulu wanika umhlaba iNdodana yakhe, iNkosi uJesu Kristu. Wayeyisixazululo ngokombono kaNkulunkulu ngoba wabonisa kahle isimo sikaNkulunkulu futhi wasinika isibonelo esiphelele esingasilandela. Wayengathi, “Osebone mina ubonile uBaba” (uJohane 14:9). UJesu wathi futhi, “Mina ngiyindlela, neqiniso, nokuphila; akakho oza kuBaba ngaphandle kwami. Uma beningazi mina, ngabe niyamazi noBaba; kusukela manje niyamazi, futhi nimbonile” (uJohane 14:6,7). Wasikhombisa inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu. Wakwazi ukwenza lokhu ngoba wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu. “Yena ogqama inkazimulo yakhe, engumfanekiso uqobo Wesimo sakhe” (AmaHebheru 1:3). Wayenobuhlobo obukhethekile noYise (Luka 2:49; 3:22). Wayenamandla kaNkulunkulu ngaphandle komkhawulo, ngakho ukunqoba kwakhe isono kwakungamandla kaNkulunkulu (uJohane 3:34). Nangu umuntu owayengaba ophelele ngapa ekhethe ukuba njalo. UJesu wabizwa ngokuthi “U-Imanuweli, okungukuthi ngokuhunyushwa: ‘UNkulunkulu unathi’ ” (Mathewu 1:23). Lokhu kuyisixazululo esivela kuNkulunkulu ngoba manje abantu bangabona isibonelo esiphilayo, othile obonisa kahle isimo nenjongo kaNkulunkulu, okuzuzwe ngamandla kaNkulunkulu.

INdodana yoMuntu

Ungase ubuze ukuthi kungani uJesu ayehlale ezibiza ngeNdodana yoMuntu (Mathewu 8:20; 9:6)? Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi kwakumele ahlanganyele nathi isimo sethu sobuntu. “Njengoba abantwana behlanganyela igazi nenyama, naye ngokunjalo wahlanganyela khona lokho, ukuze ngokufa kwakhe amshaye ngeze lowo onamandla okufa, okungukuthi udeveli, nokuba bakhululwe bonke abathi ngenxa yokwesaba ukufa bebengeziphathi zokugqotshwa kukho konke ukuphila kwabo. Ngokusobala akasizi amangelosi, kodwa usiza inzalo ka-Abrahama. Ngakho-ke kwakufanele afaniswe nabafowabo ezintweni zonke, ukuze abe ngomusa nompristi omkhulu othembekileyo ezintweni zikaNkulunkulu, ukuba enze isihlawulelo sezono zabantu. Ngoba kulokho kuhlupheka kwakhe lapho elingwa, unamandla okubasiza abalingwayo” (AmaHebheru 2:14-18).

UJesu wathwala isimo sethu futhi wazi kahle izilingo zethu (iNdodana yoMuntu), kodwa ngenxa yobuhlobo bakhe obukhethekile noNkulunkulu (iNdodana kaNkulunkulu) wakwazi ukusebenzisa amandla kaNkulunkulu ukuze anqobe isimo sobuntu, ngaleyo ndlela alethe inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu futhi asivulele nathi indlela yokubuyisana Naye.

Ukuze kuhlanganiswe amaqembu amabili ahlukene, udinga umulamuli. EThestamenteni Elidala abapristi abakhulu babenza lo msebenzi (Levitikusi 16:15-17). Njengoba sibona emavesini acashunwe ngenhla, uJesu manje usewuthathile lo msebenzi. Umulamuli kumele aqonde imizwa yezinhlangothi zombili futhi ahlonishwe yizo zombili izinhlangothi. UNkulunkulu wathumela uJesu njengomulamuli ukuba asibuyisele Kuye. “Ngoba munye uNkulunkulu, munye nomulamuli phakathi kukaNkulunkulu nabantu, umuntu uKristu Jesu” (1 uThimothewu 2:5). UJesu kwakumele aqonde izilingo zethu, yingakho ezalwe ngumama ongumuntu. “Ngoba asinaye umpristi omkhulu ongenakuba naso isihawu ngezethu ezibuthakathaka, kodwa unalowo olingiwe ezintweni zonke njengathi, engenaso isono” (AmaHebheru 4:15).

UJesu wahlanganyela nathi isimo sethu sobuntu futhi wasinqoba ngoba akazange azinikele ezifisweni zaso (Roma 8:3,4) futhi wayenoMoya oNgwebu kaNkulunkulu ohlala kuye (uJohane 3:34). Manje uyakwazi ukusikhulula esonweni ngoba akazange nanini athunjwe yisono. “Ngoba njengalokhu ngokungalatheli komuntu oyedwa abaningi benziwa izoni, kanjalo nangokulalela komuntu oyedwa abaningi bayakwenziwa abalungileyo” (Roma 5:19). Umsebenzi kaJesu kwakuwukusindisa izoni (Mathewu 1:21). Incazelo yegama elithi Jesu ithi ‘uNkulunkulu uyasindisa’. Amandla kaNkulunkulu nokuzalwa kwentombi kwenze ukuba uJesu abe yINdodana kaNkulunkulu neNdodana yoMuntu kokubili. Ukuba yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu kusho ukuthi uJesu angafikelela ekupheleleni, kanti ukuba yiNdodana yoMuntu kusho ukuthi uJesu ukwazi ukumela umuntu.

5.3.6 Kungani uJesu kwakumele afe?

UJesu wayephile impilo ephelele, enqoba isono futhi esembula ngokugcwele kithi isimo sikaNkulunkulu. Kodwa lokho kusisiza kanjani? Ngokufa kwakhe kuphela lapho singazihlanganisa khona nalolo nqobo. UNkulunkulu ufuna ukusindisa thina ukuze nathi sibe yingxenye yeCebo Elikhulu. “Ngoba uNkulunkulu walithanda izwe kangaka, baze wanika iNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa, ukuze yilowo nalowo okholwa yona angabhubhi, kodwa abe nokuphila okuphandle” (uJohane 3:16). UJesu wayengumuntu ongenasono futhi engayifanele imiholo yesono, okungukuthi ukufa (Roma 6:23). Kepha ukuze asisindise, wathwala izono zomhlaba (AmaHebheru 9:26,28) ngakho kwakumele afe. “Kanti yena ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu, wachotshozwa ngenxa yezono zethu; isijeziso sokuthula kwethu saba phezu kwakhe, nangemivimbo yakhe siphulukisiwe” (Isaya 53:5).

UJesu wafa njengomhlatshelo wezono zethu, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayengenasono, ithuna lalingenako ukumbamba. Wahlanganyela isimo sethu sesono, esidalelwe ukufa njengoba sibonile eSigabeni 3. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukufa kwakhe kwakumela uthando olumangalisayo uNkulunkulu analo kithi, ngokuba wayezimisele ukunikela ngeNdodana yakhe njengomhlatshelo ukuze asisindise (uJohane 3:16). Futhi kulapho kuphela ngokufa lapho kungaba khona ukuphila, ngakho ukufa kukaJesu kusikhombisa ngendlela enamandla ukuthi nathi kumele sizidile futhi sife kithi uqobo uma sizophila (uJohane 12:24).

“Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamvusa, ekhulula izinhlungu zokufa, ngokuba kwakungenakwenzeka ukuba abanjwe yikho” (IzEnzo 2:24). Wavuka futhi wanikwa ukuphila okuphandle ngoba wanqoba isimo sobuntu (AmaHebheru 2:14). Wathatha indawo yakhe ezulwini ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu (IzEnzo 3:33) ukuze asilamulele, avale igebe futhi asilethe ekuhlanganyeleni noNkulunkulu. “Bantwanyana bami, ngibhala lezi zinto kini ukuba ningoni. Kepha uma kukhona ona, sinomulamuli kuYise, uJesu Kristu olungileyo; yena uyisihlawulelo sezono zethu, kungasizo zezethu zodwa, kodwa ngezomhlaba wonke” (1 uJohane 2:1,2) futhi “...siyazigabisa nangoNkulunkulu ngayo iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, esithole ngayo manje ukubuyisana” (Roma 5:11).

5.3.7 Kusho ukuthini kithi ukufa nokuvuka kukaJesu?

Ukufa kwakhe kusho ukuthi nathi babizelwe ukuba sife kithi uqobo, sife esonweni sethu. Ukuvuka kwakhe kusho ukuthi nathi singavuswa, sivuselwe ekuphileni okusha, ukuphila kuKristu, okunikwa amandla nguNkulunkulu lapho enqoba khona izono zethu (AbaseFilipi 1:21). “Ngoba uma sihlanganisiwe naye ngokufana nokufa kwakhe, siyakuba njalo nangokuvuka kwakhe; sazi lokhu ukuthi umuntu wethu omdala ubethelwe naye esiphambanweni, ukuze umzimba wesono ubhujiswe, sizingabe sisakhonza isono. Ngoba ofileyo ukhululiwe esonweni. Kepha uma sife noKristu, siyakholwa ukuthi siyakukhonza naye; sazi ukuthi uKristu evusiwe kwabafileyo akasafi; ukufa akusabusi phezu kwakhe. Ngoba ukufa akufileyo, wakufela isono kanye kuphela; kepha ukuphila akuphilayo, uphilela uNkulunkulu. Kanjalo nani, zishiyeni nifile esonweni, kodwa niphilela uNkulunkulu kuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu” (Roma 6:5-11).

Kepha uma singakunaki umhlatshelo kaJesu, sishaywa ubuze phambi kukaNkulunkulu futhi siyokwamukela okufanele imisebenzi yethu — ukufa (IsAmbulo 16:15). Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyobe senqaba uthando esilwenzelwe uJesu lapho efa esiphambanweni ukuze sithethelelwe. Uma singalunaki uthando lwakhe manje, singamesaba kuphela uma esehlulela esikhathini esizayo. “Ngoba uma thina ona ngamabomu emva kokuba sesamukele ukwazi iqiniso, akusameli mhlatshelo wezono, kodwa kusale ukulindela okwesabekayo kokwahlulela nolaka lomlilo oluyakuqeda izitha zikaNkulunkulu” (AmaHebheru 10:26,27).

UJesu uyosahlulela ekuvukeni kwabafileyo. “...lokhu kuyakwenzeka lapho iNkosi uJesu ibonakaliswa ivela ezulwini namangelosi ayo anamandla, phakathi kwelangabi lomlilo, iphindisela kulabo abangamazi uNkulunkulu nabangalaleli ivangeli leNkosi yethu uJesu; bona bayakujeziswa ngokubhujiswa okuphandle, baxoshelwe kude nobuso beNkosi nasenkazimulweni yamandla ayo, lapho eza ukuba akhazimuliswe kubangcwele bakhe, batshazwe kubo bonke abakholwayo ngalelo langa” (2 AbaseThesalonika 1:7-10). Ukufa kukaJesu akushiyi ndawo yokungathathi hlangothi. Kungaba samukela noma siyakwenqaba.


5.4 ISIPHETHO

Sifunde ukuthi:

  • Abantu noNkulunkulu bahlukanisiwe ngenxa yesono.
  • IBhayibheli limisa isidingo somhlatshelo ophelele.
  • UJesu wayeyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu, okusho ukuthi wayephelele ngamandla kaNkulunkulu.
  • UJesu wayeyiNdodana yoMuntu ngoba kwakumele afaniswe nathi ukuze anqobe isono.
  • Ukufa nokuvuka kukaJesu kusifundisa ngothando lukaNkulunkulu kanye nesidingo sethu sokuzidela siphile kabusha ngamandla kaNkulunkulu.

UBANI OYISIKHIYE SENCEBO ELIKHULU?
UJesu Kristu, inzalo eyathenjiswa, okuwukuphela kwakhe owembula ngokugcwele Inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu, futhi okuwukuphela kwakhe okwazi ukusiguqulela emfanekisweni nasenkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu (2 AbaseKorinte 3:18).

English

God's Master Plan

SECTION 00

Introduction

The need for a guide
The words which John quoted from the bible troubled him. He remembered the words 'for the living know that they will die' but he couldn't remember the rest of the verse. He had a little data time on his phone, so he Googled the words and found that they came from Ecclesiastes 9:5. The words came up on his phone: 'for the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten' 3. The words were easy to understand, but what was he to do with them? He would have to change his whole way of thinking. What would Zethu think? What would her family think? What would his people think? Sipho suddenly awoke to the sound of the family getting ready for the new day, he looked at his watch, it was nearly 5.30am! He would be late for work ... kissing Zethu and the kids goodbye, he rushed out of the house and ran all the way to the bus stop. He managed to scramble onto the bus just as it was pulling away.

THE LONGEST DAY
He saw John at the back of the bus. But as there were no seats he had to stand in the isle - all the way to town! It was the longest trip ever. He was tired, he was irritated ... and what was worse is that he wanted so desperately to speak to John, but couldn't. That afternoon after work, he waited at the bus rank in town for John. As a friend he wanted to tell him face-to-face that he no longer wanted him to talk to him about the Bible. He could not betray who he was. He was born an African, and he would remain an African. Never mind what the bible said, he would continue to worship and pray to his ancestors. Even if John did not understand his feelings, God would! It was dark and the bus station was teaming with people trying to get home from the busy day at work. In the distance, through the hazy crowd he saw John coming towards him. Just then he heard the sounds of gun shots. Bullets were flying all over the place. People were screaming and rushing for cover. Sipho froze. He couldn't seem to move. Everything in his world seemed to be happening in slow motion. The sounds of the screaming started to fade. The street lights and head lights began to swirl. Slowly he lost consciousness as a single bullet ripped through his lungs. The last thing he felt was his body crumpling and his head hitting the cold pavement.

Suddenly Sipho's world went completely dark. By the time the air had cleared, and a sense of street normality began to take shape. John ran over to Sipho. He tried desperately to revive his friend. He held his body tight against his as he cried to God for help. But it was too late. Sipho was dead. For Sipho, it was too late to learn about the great God of the universe, the God of all creation. The God and Father of Jesus Christ. The God that gives life and breath to every living creature. The God that gives life. The God that takes life.

“Jehovah kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up” 10.

There is hope beyond the grave for all those who follow the teachings of Jesus - “in spirit and in truth”11..

We are thankful that you have the chosen to learn more about God's plan for you.

Welcome to God's Master Plan!

Bible References:
1. Psalm 49:20 2. Psalm 46:3-4 3. Ecclesiastes 9:5 4. John 3:13 5. Acts 2:34 6. Psal 2:6 7. Revelation 9:20 8. Hebrews 10:12 9. Acts 8:12 10. 1 Samuel 2:6 11. John 4:24





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