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An eye on eternity - 23 November 2023

An eye on eternity - 23 November 2023

By Ewald Schmidt

Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli

UmShumayeli 3

10Ngibonile umshikashika uNkulunkulu awunikile amadodana abantu ukuba awushikashike.

UmShumayeli 4

1Ngase ngibuye ngabona konke ukucindezela okwenziwa phansi kwelanga; bheka izinyembezi zabacindezelwayo; babengenamduduzi. Ohlangothini lwababacindezelayo kwakukhona amandla, kepha bona babengenamduduzi. 2Ngase ngibusisa abafileyo asebafa kunabaphilayo abasekhona, 3kepha badlulwa bobabili nguye ongakabikho, ongabonanga umsebenzi omubi owenziwa phansi kwelanga.

4Futhi ngabona wonke umshikashika nakho konke okwenziwe ngekhono ukuthi kungumhawu womuntu ngomakhelwane wakhe. Nalokho kuyize nokufuna umoya.

5Isiwula siyasonga izandla zaso,

sidle umzimba waso.

6Kungcono ukhweshe lokuthula

kunezandla zombili zigcwele umshikashika

kanye nokufuna umoya.

7Ngase ngibuye ngabona okunye okuyize phansi kwelanga:

8Kukhona oyedwa,

kanaye owesibili,

yebo, akanamntwana, kanamfowabo,

nokho ukuphela komshikashika wakhe akukho,

namehlo akhe awasuthi ngengcebo.

Uthi: “Ngishikashikela-bani,

ngiswezisela umphefumulo wami ngokuhle, na?”

Nalokho kuyize nenhlupheko embi.

9Kungcono ababili kunoyedwa,

ngokuba banomvuzo omkhulu ngomshikashika wabo.

10Ngokuba uma bewa,

omunye uyavusa umngane wakhe;

kepha maye kuye oyedwa lapho ewa,

engenawesibili wokumvusa!

11Futhi uma ababili belele ndawonye,

banokufudumala,

kepha oyedwa angafudumala kanjani na?

12Nakuba umuntu ahlula oyedwa,

ababili bayakuma phambi kwakhe,

nentambo emicu mithathu ayisheshi ukugqashuka.

13Kungcono umfana ompofu ohlakaniphileyo kunenkosi egugileyo eyisiwula, engasakwazi ukuxwayiswa, 14ngokuba waphuma etilongweni ukuba abe yinkosi, yebo, wazalwa embusweni wayo empofu. 15Ngabona bonke abaphilayo ababehamba phansi kwelanga bekanye nalowo mfana obeyakuma esikhundleni sakhe; 16kwakungekho ukuphela kwabantu bonke, bonke ayephambi kwabo; nokho abafika emuva abayikuthokoza ngaye. Impela nalokho kuyize nokufuna umoya.

UmShumayeli 5

Ukumesaba uJehova

1Gcina unyawo lwakho, lapho uya endlini kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba ukusondela ukuyokuzwa kungcono kunokunikela ngomhlatshelo weziwula, ngokuba azazi ukuthi zenza okubi.

2Ungabi namawala ngomlomo wakho,

nenhliziyo yakho mayingasheshi ukukhipha izwi

phambi kukaNkulunkulu,

ngokuba uNkulunkulu usezulwini,

wena usemhlabeni;

ngalokho amazwi akho mawabe yingcosana.

3Ngokuba iphupho livela

ngemisebenzi eminingi

nephimbo lesiwula ngobuningi bamazwi.

4Lapho wenza isithembiso phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ungalibali ukusifeza, ngokuba akathokozi ngeziwula: feza lokhu okwethembisayo. 5Kungcono ukuba ungenzi isithembiso kunokuba uthembisa ungafezi. 6Ungavumeli umlomo wakho ukuba wonise inyama yakho, futhi ungasho phambi kwesithunywa sikaNkulunkulu ukuthi kuyiphutha; yini ukuba uNkulunkulu athukuthelele izwi lakho, achithe umsebenzi wezandla zakho, na? 7Ngokuba lapho kukhona amaphupho amaningi, kukhona nokuyize namazwi amaningi, kepha wena yesaba uNkulunkulu.

8Uma ubona ukudlovelwa kwabampofu nokuphangwa kokwahlulela nokokulunga ezweni, ungamangali ngakho, ngokuba omkhulu uqaphela omkhulu kunaye, futhi kukhona nabakhulu kunabo. 9Inkosi esebenzela amasimu iyinsizakalo yezwe kukho konke.

10Othanda imali akayikusutha ngemali,

nothanda okuningi akaneliswa yizithelo;

nalokho kuyize.

11Lapho okuhle kwanda,

nabakudlayo bayanda;

kulusizo luni kumninikho

ngaphandle kokuba akubone ngamehlo akhe na?

12Ubuthongo besisebenzi bumnandi,

noma sidla okuyingcosana noma okuningi,

kepha ukusutha kocebileyo

akumvumeli ukuba alale.

13Kukhona ububi obudabukisayo engibubonile phansi kwelanga:

ingcebo egcinelwe

umniniyo ukuba imlimaze;

14futhi uma ingcebo ichithwa

ngengozi embi,

indodana ayizalileyo

ayinalutho esandleni sayo.

15Njengalokho aphuma esizalweni sikanina,

uyakubuye amuke,

ahambe ze njengasekufikeni kwakhe,

engatholi lutho ngomshikashika wakhe,

ahambe nalo esandleni sakhe.

16Nalokho kungububi obudabukisayo

ukuthi uyamuka kukho konke

njengokufika kwakhe;

unanzuzoni ukuthi ushikashikele umoya na?

17Yebo, zonke izinsuku zakhe

zisebumnyameni nasosizini,

nasekukhathazekeni okuningi,

nasekuguleni, nasekuthukutheleni.

18Bheka, engikubonile mina ukuthi kuhle futhi kumnandi kumuntu kungukudla, nokuphuza, nokubona okuhle kuwo wonke umshikashika wakhe awushikashikayo phansi kwelanga zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe uNkulunkulu amnika zona; ngokuba lokhu kuyisabelo sakhe. 19Futhi bonke abantu uNkulunkulu abaphe ingcebo nemfuyo, abanike futhi namandla okudla kukho ukuba bathathe izabelo zabo, bathokoze ngomshikashika wabo lokho kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu. 20Ngokuba akakhumbuli kakhulu izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe, lokhu uNkulunkulu emnika intokozo enhliziyweni yakhe.

UmShumayeli 6

1Kukhona ububi engibubonile phansi kwelanga ukuthi bunzima phezu kwabantu: 2umuntu uNkulunkulu amnika ingcebo, nemfuyo, nodumo, aze angasweli lutho lomphefumulo wakhe kukho konke akufisayo, uNkulunkulu angamniki nokho amandla okudla kukho, kepha kudliwa ngumfokazi; lokho kuyize, kuyisifo esibi.

3Uma umuntu ezala abantwana abayikhulu, ehamba iminyaka eminingi, zibe ziningi izinsuku zeminyaka yakhe, kodwa umphefumulo wakhe ungasuthi ngokuhle, futhi angabi nakumbelwa, ngithi okuphuphumileyo kungcono kunaye, 4ngokuba kufika ngeze, kumuke ebumnyameni, igama lakho lisitshekelwa ngubumnyama. 5Nelanga akulibonanga, akwazi lutho; khona kunokuphumula kunaye. 6Yebo, noma ephila iminyaka eyinkulungwane ephindwa kabili, engaboni okuhle, abayi bonke endaweni inye na?

7Wonke umshikashika womuntu wenzelwa umlomo wakhe,

nokho iphango alaneliswa.

8Ngokuba ohlakaniphileyo udluleleni isiwula,

nompofu okwazi ukuhamba phambi kwabaphilileyo

unantoni na?

9Kungcono ukubona kwamehlo

kunokuzulazula kwesifiso;

nalokhu kuyize nokufuna umoya.

10Okukhona kwake kwabizwa ngegama;

kwaziwa ukuthi umuntu uyakuba yini;

akanakwahlulelana nonamandla kunaye.

11Lokhu kukhona amazwi amaningi

akwandisa okuyize,

umuntu unanzuzoni na?

12Ngokuba ngubani okwaziyo okuhle okuyakuba ngokomuntu ekuhambeni kwakhe zonke izinsuku zokuhamba kwakhe okuyize aziqedayo njengesithunzi na? Ngubani ongatshela umuntu okuyakuba semva kwakhe phansi kwelanga na?

UmShumayeli 7

Ukudabuka nokuthokoza; ukulunga nokungalungi

1Igama elihle lingcono kunamafutha amahle,

nosuku lokufa lungcono kunosuku lokuzalwa.

2Kungcono ukuya endlini yokulila

kunokuya endlini yedili,

ngokuba lokho kungukuphela kwabantu bonke;

nophilayo makakubeke enhliziyweni yakhe.

3Usizi lungcono kunokuhleka,

ngokuba ngokudabuka kobuso

inhliziyo yenzelwa okuhle.

4Inhliziyo yabahlakaniphileyo isendlini yokulila,

kepha inhliziyo yeziwula isendlini yentokozo.

5Kungcono ukuzwa ukukhuza kohlakaniphileyo

kunokuba umuntu ezwe ukuhlabelela kweziwula.

6Njengokucacamba kwezintathawe eziphansi kwekhanzi,

kunjalo ukuhleka kweziwula.

Nalokho kuyize.

7Impela ukucindezela kuyamhlanyisa ohlakaniphileyo,

nokuthengwa ngomvuzo kuchitha ingqondo.

8Kungcono ukuphela kwendaba kunokuqala kwayo;

onomoya obekezelayo ungcono kunoziphakamisayo.

9Ungasheshi ukuthukuthela emoyeni wakho,

ngokuba ulaka luhlala ezifubeni zeziwula.

10Ungasho ukuthi:

“Kwenziwa kanjani ukuba izinsuku zokuqala

zazizinhle kunalezi na?”

Ngokuba awubuzi kanjalo ngokuhlakanipha.

11Ukuhlakanipha kuhle njengefa,

yebo, kunenzuzo kwabalibonayo ilanga,

12ngokuba kusemthunzini wokuhlakanipha

njengasemthunzini wemali,

kepha inzuzo yokwazi

ingeyokuba ukuhlakanipha

kulondoloza ukuphila kwalowo onakho.

13Bona umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu,

ngokuba ngubani ongelula lokho akugobileyo na?

14Yenama ngosuku lwenhlanhla,

kepha ngosuku olubi qonda ukuthi

nalolu uNkulunkulu ulwenzile njengalolo,

ukuze umuntu angafumani lutho

oluyakuba khona emva kwakhe.

15Konke ngikubonile emihleni yami eyize:

kukhona olungileyo obhubhile ekulungeni kwakhe,

kukhona nomubi owelula ukuphila kwakhe ebubini bakhe.

16Ungabi ngolungileyo ngokudluleleyo,

ungazenzi ohlakaniphileyo kakhulu;

uzichithelani na?

17Ungabi mubi ngokudluleleyo,

ungabi yisiwula;

uyakufelani kungakabi yisikhathi na?

18kuhle ukuba ubambelele kulokhu,

yebo, ungabuyisi isandla sakho nakulokho,

ngokuba owesaba uNkulunkulu

uyakuphumelela kukho konke.

19Ukuhlakanipha kumenza ohlakaniphileyo

ukuba abe namandla kunababusi abayishumi abasemzini.

20Ngokuba akukho muntu emhlabeni

olungileyo kangaka ukuba enze okuhle, angoni.

21Ungabeki inhliziyo yakho

emazwini onke akhulunywayo,

funa uzwe inceku yakho ikuthuka,

22ngokuba kaninginingi inhliziyo yakho

iyazi ukuba nawe ubathukile abanye.

23Konke lokho ngikuvivinyile ngokuhlakanipha, ngathi:

“Ngiyakuhlakanipha,”

kepha kwakusala kude nami.

24Okude nokujulile kakhulu,

ngubani ongakufumana na?

25Ngase ngiphenduka

ukuba inhliziyo yami yazi, ihlole,

ifune ukuhlakanipha nendikimba yezindaba

ukuyokwazi ububi ukuthi bungubuwula,

nobuwula ukuthi bungubuhlanya.

26Ngase ngifumana okubaba kunokufa:

owesifazane onhliziyo yakhe iyizingibe namanetha,

nezandla zakhe ziyizibopho;

omuhle phambi kukaNkulunkulu uyakuphunyuka kuye,

kepha isoni siyakubanjwa nguye.

27“Bheka, nakhu engikufumene,” uthi uMshumayeli:

“Ngibeka okunye kokunye

ukuba ngithole indikimba yezindaba,

28nokusafunwa ngumphefumulo wami,

ngingakakufumani kodwa:

indoda inye phakathi kwenkulungwane ngiyifumene,

kepha owesifazane phakathi kwabo bonke labo angimfumananga.

29Bheka, lokhu kuphela ngikufumene

ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamenza umuntu waba qotho,

kepha bona bafunile amacebo amaningi.”

UmShumayeli 8

1Ngubani onjengohlakaniphileyo na?

Ngubani owazi ukuchasisela indaba na?

Ukuhlakanipha komuntu kuyakhanyisa ubuso bakhe,

nobulukhuni bobuso bakhe buyaguqulwa.

2Ngithi: Gcina izwi lenkosi

ngenxa yesifungo ngoNkulunkulu.

3Ungasheshi ukusuka ebusweni bayo,

ungemi endabeni embi,

ngokuba yenza konke ekuthandayo.

4Ngokuba izwi lenkosi liyabusa;

ngubani ongasho kuyo ukuthi: “Wenzani na?”

5Ogcina umyalo akayikwazi okubi:

nenhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo

iyakwazi isikhathi nokwahlulela,

6ngokuba kukhona isikhathi nokwahlulela ezindabeni zonke;

nokho ububi bomuntu bukhulu phezu kwakhe,

7lokhu engazi okuyakuba khona,

ngokuba ngubani ongamtshela ukuthi kuyakuba kanjani na?

8Akukho muntu onamandla phezu komoya ukuba awuthiye,

futhi akakho obusa phezu kosuku lokufa;

ukukhululwa akukho empini,

nobubi abunakukhulula umninibo.

9Ngabona konke lokho, ngabeka inhliziyo yami kuyo yonke imisebenzi eyenziwa phansi kwelanga ngesikhathi lapho umuntu ebusa omunye kube ngukulimala kwakhe. 10Kanjalo ngabona ukuthi ababi bembelwa, ababengenile bephuma endaweni engcwele, bababazeka emzini lapho kade benza okunjalo; nalokho kuyize.

11Ngenxa yokuba ububi obenziwayo bungahlulelwa masinyane, ngalokho izinhliziyo zamadodana abantu phakathi kwawo zigcwele ukwenza okubi, 12ngangokuba isoni, noma senza okubi kayikhulu, kuyandiswa nokho izinsuku zaso. Kanti nokho ngiyazi ukuthi kuzakuba kuhle kwabamesabayo uNkulunkulu, lokhu besaba phambi kobuso bakhe; 13kodwa akuyikuba kuhle kwababi, nemihla yabo ayiyikwandiswa njengesithunzi, lokhu abesabi phambi kukaNkulunkulu.

14Kukhona okuyize okwenziwa emhlabeni kokuthi kukhona abalungileyo abehlelwa ngokomsebenzi wababi, nokuthi kukhona ababi abehlelwa ngokomsebenzi wabalungileyo; ngathi: “Nalokho kuyize.” 15Ngase ngibabaza intokozo, ngokuba umuntu akanakho okuhle phansi kwelanga kunokudla, nokuphuza, nokujabula; lokhu kuyakuhlala kuye emshikashikeni wakhe ezinsukwini zokuphila kwakhe aziphiweyo nguNkulunkulu phansi kwelanga.

16Lapho ngibeka inhliziyo yami ukukwazi ukuhlakanipha nokubona umshikashika owenziwa emhlabeni, ngokuba akakho obona ubuthongo ngamehlo akhe imini nobusuku, 17ngase ngiqonda wonke umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ukuthi umuntu akanakuwubamba umsebenzi owenziwa phansi kwelanga, ngokuba noma umuntu eshikashikeka kangakanani ukuwuhlola, angewuthole, yebo, nakuba ohlakaniphileyo ecabanga ukuthi uyawazi, akanakuwuthola.

UmShumayeli 9

1Ngokuba konke lokho ngakubeka enhliziyweni yami ukuhlola konke lokho ukuthi abalungileyo nabahlakaniphileyo nemisebenzi yabo kusesandleni sikaNkulunkulu; noma kuluthando noma kuyinzondo, akukho muntu okwaziyo; konke kusebusweni babo. 2Konke kungabehlela bonke, olungileyo nomubi, omuhle nohlambulukileyo nongcolileyo, onikela ngomhlatshelo nongenawo umhlatshelo, omuhle abe njengesoni, ofungayo njengowesaba isifungo.

3Kubi lokhu kukho konke okwenziwa phansi kwelanga ukuthi bonke behlelwa yinto inye; ngalokho izinhliziyo zamadodana abantu zigcwele ububi, nobuhlanya busezinhliziyweni zabo besekhona, andukuba baye kwabafileyo. 4Ohlangene nabo bonke abaphilayo kukhona ithemba kuye, ngokuba inja ephilayo ingcono kunengonyama efileyo. 5Ngokuba abaphilayo bayazi ukuthi bayakufa, kepha abafileyo abazi lutho, futhi abasenawo umvuzo, ngokuba ukukhunjulwa kwabo sekukhohlakele. 6Uthando lwabo, nokuzonda kwabo, nomhawu wabo sekuphelile, futhi abasenaso isabelo nanini kukho konke okwenziwa phansi kwelanga.

7Hamba udle isinkwa sakho ngentokozo, uphuze iwayini ngenhliziyo enhle, ngokuba uNkulunkulu usevumile imisebenzi yakho. 8Izingubo zakho mazibe mhlophe ngezikhathi zonke, nekhanda lakho malingasweli amafutha. 9Thokoza ngokuphila nomkakho omthandayo zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakho okuyize, oziphiwayo phansi kwelanga zonke izinsuku zakho eziyize, ngokuba lokhu kuyisabelo sakho kulokho kuphila ngomshikashika wakho owushikashikayo phansi kwelanga. 10Konke isandla sakho esikufumanayo ukukwenza, kwenze ngamandla akho, ngokuba akukho msebenzi, namcabango, nakwazi, nakuhlakanipha endaweni yabafileyo, lapho uya khona.

11Ngabuye ngabona phansi kwelanga

ukuthi ukujaha akuyi ngabanejubane,

nokulwa ngamaqhawe,

nesinkwa ngabahlakaniphileyo,

nengcebo ngabaqondileyo,

nomusa ngabanokwazi,

ngokuba bonke bahlangabezana nesikhathi nethuba.

12Ngokuba umuntu akasazi isikhathi sakhe;

njengezinhlanzi ezibanjwa enetheni elibi

nezinyoni ezibanjwa ogibeni,

kanjalo amadodana abantu abekelwa isihibe

ngesikhathi esibi,

lapho siwehlela ngokuzumayo.

13Ngabona futhi ukuhlakanipha ngale ndlela phansi kwelanga, kwaba kukhulu kimi: 14kwakukhona umuzi omncane, unabantu abayingcosana phakathi kwawo; kwafika inkosi enkulu kuwo, yawuvimbezela, yakha izinqaba ezinkulu ngakuwo; 15kepha kwafunyanwa kuwo indoda empofu ehlakaniphileyo; yawukhulula umuzi ngokuhlakanipha kwayo, kodwa nokho akakho okhumbula leyo ndoda empofu. 16Ngase ngithi: “Ukuhlakanipha kuhle kunamandla,” kepha ukuhlakanipha kompofu kuyadelelwa, namazwi akhe awezwakali.

17Amazwi abahlakaniphileyo ezwakalayo ekuthuleni

mahle kunokumemeza kobusa phakathi kweziwula.

18Ukuhlakanipha kungcono kunezikhali zokulwa,

ngokuba oyedwa owonayo angachitha okuhle okuningi.

UmShumayeli 10

Ukuhlakanipha nobuwula

1Izimpukane ezifileyo

zenza amafutha omthaki ukuba anuke, abile;

kanjalo ubuwula obuncane

bulingana nokuhlakanipha nodumo.

2Inhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo

ingakwesokunene sakhe,

kepha inhliziyo yesiwula ingakwesokhohlo.

3Yebo, nasendleleni esihamba ngayo isiwula,

siyaphela ingqondo,

sisho kubo bonke ukuthi siyisiwula.

4Uma umoya wombusi ukuvukela,

ungashiyi indawo yakho,

ngokuba ukubekezela kuvimba izono ezinkulu.

5Kukhona ububi engibubonile phansi kwelanga,

bunjengephutha elivela kumbusi:

6ubuwula bubekwa ezindaweni eziningi eziphakemeyo,

kepha abacebileyo bahlala kweziphansi.

7Ngibonile izinceku zikhwele amahhashi,

nezikhulu zihamba phansi njengezinceku.

8Omba umgodi uyakuwela kuwo,

nodiliza ugange uyakulunywa yinyoka.

9Okhipha amatshe uyakulinyazwa yiwo,

nobanda izinkuni uyakuba sengozini ngazo.

10Uma insimbi ibuthuntu,

umuntu engaloli usiko,

uyakhamelela ngamandla;

kepha okusizayo ukuphumelelisa kungukuhlakanipha.

11Uma inyoka iluma ingakalunjwa,

umlumbi akasizi lutho.

12Amazwi omlomo wohlakaniphileyo anomusa,

kepha izindebe zesiwula ziyasigwinya sona.

13Ukuqala kwamazwi omlomo waso angubuwula,

nokugcina kokukhuluma kwaso kungubuhlanya obubi.

14Isiwula siyandisa amazwi,

nokho umuntu akazi okuyakuba khona;

nalokho okuyakuba ngasemva kwakhe,

ngubani ongamtshela lokho na?

15Umshikashika weziwula uyaziqoba,

ukuze zingazi nokuya emzini.

16Maye kuwe lizwe onkosi yakho ingumntwana,

nezikhulu zakho zinedili ekuseni!

17Ubusisiwe wena lizwe onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu,

nezikhulu zakho zinedili ngesikhathi,

ziziqinise, zingadakwa.

18Ngobuvila obukhulu indlu iyabola,

nangokwenqena kwezandla iyavuza.

19Idili lenzelwa ukuhleka,

newayini liyenamisa ukuphila,

kepha imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.

20Ungayiqalekisi inkosi nasemicabangweni yakho,

ungabathuki abacebileyo nasekamelweni lakho lokulala,

ngokuba inyoni yezulu iyakulihambisa izwi,

nokunamaphiko kuyakuyilanda indaba.

UmShumayeli 11

Konke kuyize leze

1Thuma isinkwa sakho ebusweni bamanzi,

ngokuba uyakusifumana

emva kwezinsuku eziningi.

2Yabela abayisikhombisa nabayisishiyagalombili,

ngokuba awukwazi okubi okuyakuba semhlabeni.

3Uma amafu egcwele imvula,

ayayithulula emhlabeni;

futhi uma kuwa umuthi ngaseningizimu

noma ngasenyakatho,

endaweni lapho uwa khona umuthi,

uyakuba lapho.

4Oqaphela umoya akayikuhlwanyela;

obheka amafu kayikuvuna.

5Njengalokhu ungazi indlela yomoya ukuthi iphi,

nokubunjwa kwamathambo esizalweni sokhulelweyo,

kanjalo awuyazi nemisebenzi kaNkulunkulu owenza konke.

6Hlwanyela imbewu yakho kusasa,

ungaphumuzi isandla sakho nakusihlwa,

ngokuba awazi ukuthi yiyiphi eyakuphumelela,

yilena noma yileyo,

noma ziyakuba zinhle zombili ngokufanayo.

7Ukukhanya kumnandi,

yebo, kuhle emehlweni ukubona ilanga.

8Noma umuntu ekhona iminyaka eminingi,

makathokoze ngayo yonke,

akhumbule nokho nezinsuku zobumnyama

ukuthi njengokuba ziziningi,

konke okufikayo kuyize.

Iziluleko kwabasha

9Thokoza, nsizwa,

ebusheni bakho,

inhliziyo yakho ikuphe ukwenama

emihleni yobunsizwa bakho,

uhambe ngezindlela zenhliziyo yakho

njengokubona kwamehlo akho,

kepha yazi ukuthi ngakho konke lokho

uNkulunkulu uyakukungenisa ekwahlulelweni.

10Khipha usizi enhliziyweni yakho,

udlulise okubi emzimbeni wakho,

ngokuba ubusha nobunsizwa buyize.

UmShumayeli 3:10ZUL59NOVula kumfundi weBhayibheli

The old Romans had the saying, tempus fugit velut umbra – time flies like a shadow. In this verse, there is a differentiation between human time and eternity (God’s time). Human time is measurable. So many hymns sing of the passing of time, like this one by Sidney Dyer: “Time is earnest, passing by; Death is earnest, drawing nigh; Sinner, wilt thou trifling be, while the voice of God doth call thee?

When we are very young, it feels as if time stands still. It seems to be such a long time before our lunch break or until dinner time. Christmas is still an eternity away. As we grow older, we are more aware of the sand in our hour glass running out. Time feels as if it is going faster. Last year this time, it was still September and now, we are a month away from Christmas. Where has the time gone?

Our human time is measurable. It is the time we are aware of – the time from our birth until our very last breath. We are ever more aware that our time is finite and, therefore, precious. May we pray with Moses in Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, Psalm 111:10 teaches us. The art of graceful living is to find every day as a gift from God’s hand. It invites us to make the most of every passing day. We need to make time to celebrate the small things along the way. Its asks of us to spend our precious time on the precious people God has put in our lives. Quality time together is the most valued gift that we can give one another. Time flies, so don’t waste it! Be aware of the things that steal your time – time thieves, like social media.

The secret is to live every day to its fullest, to find the grace and love of God in every moment, because we are also aware of another dimension of time – God’s time, eternity – the time that we are not able to measure. How do I begin to comprehend eternity before I was born? How do I grasp eternity after my death? Eternity is God’s time, where one day is like a thousand years for him and a thousand years, like one day (2 Peter 3:8). God is above time, he is not bound by it. I am too small to comprehend the magnitude of eternal time; I can only stand in awe.

I know that, one day, my time on earth will run out. I am not afraid, for I belong to the God who is in control of eternity. I trust him for my future; his love expels all fear.

Prayer: Lord, you wrote the days of my life even before I was born. You have given me a life, here and now. You fill my life with your beauty. Teach me to number my days, that I may gain wisdom, to serve you more. Thank you that I may leave eternal matters in your capable hands! Amen

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
SITHOLE KU