📖 Kuhubiri Mafundisho — Sehemu ya 4: Kuhubiri Fundisho la Mungu📖 Doctrinal Preaching — Unit 4: Preaching the Doctrine of God

Mahubiri kama yalivyohubiriwa:The sermon as preached:

Kuna mambo machache katika ulimwengu huu yanayobaki imara. Wanadamu wanaweza kujenga, lakini nguvu za wakati na za maumbile na za Mungu hubomoa yote tunayoyajenga. Mojawapo ya misiba mikubwa ya Kanada ilikuwa kimbunga cha mwaka 1987. Gazeti liliandika kichwa, “Saa Mbili za Hofu Kuu.” Vimbunga havitarajiwi kuupiga mji wa Edmonton. Lakini kilipiga, na watu ishirini na sita walipoteza maisha, na hasara ya dola milioni 150 ikapatikana. Kiliitwa mojawapo ya maafa mabaya zaidi ya asili katika Kanada. Watu wa Edmonton na wa ulimwengu walitikiswa.There are few things in this world that remain steadfast. Men may build, but the forces of time and nature and God tear down all that we build. One of the great tragedies of Canada was the tornado of 1987. The newspaper was headlined, “Two Hours of Terror.” Tornadoes are not supposed to hit Edmonton. But it did, and twenty-six lives were lost and $150 million in damage was suffered. It was called one of the worst natural disasters in Canada. The people of Edmonton and the world were shaken.

Wiki hii iliyopita huko Los Angeles, “Mji wa Malaika,” kumekuwa na ghasia na uporaji. Mtu mmoja aitwaye Rodney King alipigwa na maafisa wa polisi, na maafisa hao hawakutiwa hatiani. Watu waliingia barabarani na kuharibu wilaya nzima nzima. Jumla ya hasara inaweza kukaribia dola bilioni moja. Maisha mengi yalipotea. Ghasia zilienea kote Amerika ya Kaskazini — hata hadi Toronto.This past week in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, there have been riots and looting. A man named Rodney King was beaten by police officers, and the officers were not convicted. People took to the streets and devastated entire districts. The total damage may be close to a billion dollars. Many lives were lost. Riots spread across North America — even to Toronto.

Katika sura ya kumi na moja ya Mwanzo, wanadamu walijenga mnara mkubwa wa Babeli ambao waliamini ungefika mbinguni. Lakini Mungu hakupendezwa na kiburi chao, akayaangusha majengo hayo chini, akawatawanya watu, na akaivuruga lugha yao. Mojawapo ya majengo makubwa ya kwanza halikusimama.In the eleventh chapter of Genesis, men built a mighty tower of Babel which they believed would reach heaven. But God was displeased with their pride, and He brought the buildings tumbling to the ground, scattered the people, and confused their language. One of the first great buildings did not stand.

Mmekuwa mkisoma hivi karibuni juu ya majaribio ya kuihifadhi Sanamu ya Sphinx. Ilipojengwa mara ya kwanza kwa mawe ya chokaa, lazima ilikuwa mandhari ya kuvutia na nzuri. Kwa sababu ya uharibifu wa wakati imekuwa ikibomoka, na juhudi nyingi za kuihifadhi katika miaka mia kadhaa iliyopita zimeifanya kuwa mbaya zaidi, si bora.You have been reading recently about attempts to preserve the Sphinx. When it was first constructed from limestone, it must have been an imposing and beautiful sight. Because of the ravages of time it has been falling apart, and most of the preservation efforts of the last few hundred years have made it worse, not better.

Basi tugeukie wapi? Ni nini kitakachodumu wakati alama za miji, na miji yenyewe, na hata ustaarabu mzima unapotikiswa? Nataka tuangalie baadhi ya mambo yasiyotikisika.So where do we turn? What will survive when landmarks and cities and even civilizations are shaken? I want us to look at some unshakable things.

I. Mungu hatatikiswa.I. God will not be shaken.

Mungu ndiye Kiumbe mmoja mwenyezi, asiyebadilika. Yeye anatangaza, “Sina kigeugeu.” Ielekeze akili yako nyuma katika wakati uliopita kadiri unavyoweza, nawe utamkuta Mungu. Yeye ndiye Chanzo cha kwanza cha uumbaji wote; vitu vyote vinatoka kwake, na pasipo Yeye hakuna kilichokuwepo. Kisha ielekeze akili yako mbele katika wakati ujao kadiri unavyoweza — kupita nyota, jua, mwezi, malimwengu, na hukumu — na huko utamkuta Mungu Mwenyezi.God is the one omnipotent, unchangeable Being. He declares, “I change not.” Project your mind as far back into the past as you can, and you will find God. He is the first Cause of all creation; all things come from Him, and without Him nothing came into being. Then project your mind as far into the future as you can — beyond the stars, the sun, the moon, the worlds, the judgment — and there you will find God the Almighty.

Katika milele yote iliyopita, katika mambo yote ya sasa, katika milele yote ijayo, Mungu anabaki yule yule. Hatujui ni muda gani umepita tangu alipousema ulimwengu ukawepo; wengine husema mamilioni ya miaka, wengine mabilioni. Lakini Mungu alikuwa yule yule wakati huo kama alivyo sasa, na atakavyokuwa milele.In all of eternity past, in all things present, in all of eternity future, God remains the same. We do not know how long it has been since He spoke the world into existence; some say millions of years, some say billions. But God was the same then as He is now and shall be forever.

Wakati wa tetemeko la ardhi miaka michache iliyopita, watu wa kijiji kimoja kidogo waliogopa sana, lakini walishangazwa na utulivu na furaha ya mama mzee mmoja waliyemjua wote. Hatimaye mmoja wao akamwambia, “Mama, huogopi?” “Hapana,” akasema mwanamke huyo mwema, “ninafurahi kujua kwamba nina Mungu anayeweza kuutikisa ulimwengu.” Mungu anautikisa ulimwengu, lakini Yeye mwenyewe hawezi kutikiswa.During an earthquake a few years ago, the people of a small village were very much alarmed, but they were surprised at the calmness and joy of an old woman they all knew. At length one of them said to her, “Mother, are you not afraid?” “No,” said the good woman, “I rejoice to know that I have a God who can shake the world.” God shakes the world, but He Himself cannot be shaken.

II. Neno la Mungu haliwezi kutikiswa.II. God’s Word cannot be shaken.

Zaburi 119:89 inasema, “Ee BWANA, neno lako lasimama imara mbinguni hata milele.” Isaya 40:8 inatangaza, “Majani yakauka, ua lanyauka; bali neno la Mungu wetu litasimama milele.” Neno la Mungu ni nini? Neno “neno” linamaanisha akili au fikira za mtu; kwa hiyo neno la Mungu ni njia ambayo Mungu anawasiliana nasi. Yesu wakati mwingine anaitwa Neno Lililo Hai, kwa sababu kwa maisha yake na kifo chake alituonyesha Mungu alivyo. Injili ni neno “lililohubiriwa,” kwa sababu inaeleza kile Mungu alichofanya kupitia Yesu. Na Biblia ni neno “lililoandikwa,” njia nyingine ambayo Mungu anasema nasi.Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” Isaiah 40:8 declares, “The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” What is the word of God? The word “word” refers to the mind or reason of a person; so the word of God is the way God communicates with us. Jesus is sometimes called the Living Word, because through His life and death He showed us what God is like. The gospel is the “preached” word, because it tells what God did through Jesus. And the Bible is the “written” word, another way God speaks to us.

Katika karne zote wanadamu wamejaribu kuliangamiza neno la Mungu, kwa sababu linachoma hadi moyoni na kutuhakikishia dhambi. Katika Agano la Kale, wafalme walijaribu kuwanyamazisha manabii waliohubiri neno lake; lakini Mungu alisimama nyuma ya manabii wake, na neno lake likadumu. Wanadamu walimpigilia Yesu, Neno Lililo Hai, msalabani pale Kalvari, kwa sababu maisha yake yaliwahukumu; lakini Mungu alimfufua kutoka kaburini, na neno lake halikuangamizwa.Through the centuries men have tried to destroy God’s word, because it strikes to the heart and convicts us of sin. In the Old Testament, kings tried to silence the prophets who preached His word; but God stood behind His prophets, and His word endured. Men nailed Jesus, the Living Word, to a cross on Calvary, because His life condemned them; but God raised Him from the grave, and His word was not destroyed.

Kumekuwa na mashambulizi mengi dhidi ya Biblia katika vizazi vyote, lakini bado inasimama na itasimama milele. Imechomwa motoni; imefungwa kwa minyororo kwenye mimbari ili watu wa kawaida wasiweze kuisoma; maneno machungu yamesemwa na kuandikwa dhidi yake. Lakini inasimama imara na ya kweli.There have been many attacks against the Bible through the ages, but it still stands and shall stand forever. It has been burned at the stake; it has been chained to the pulpits so that common people could not read it; bitter things have been said and written against it. But it stands firm and true.

Tunaambiwa kwamba mamilioni ya galoni za maji hupiga Mwamba wa Gibraltar kila dakika, lakini umesimama bila kutikisika kwa karne nyingi. Mamilioni ya wasioamini wameitupia Biblia nguvu zao zote, lakini inasimama, na wao wameangamia.We are told that millions of gallons of water burst against the Rock of Gibraltar every minute, yet it has stood unmoved over the centuries. Millions of unbelievers have hurled their strength against the Bible, but it stands, and they have perished.

Miaka mingi iliyopita mmishonari mmoja huko Italia alimpa Biblia mtu mmoja aliyekuwa akijenga ukuta. Mtu yule aliichukua na, huku akicheka, akaifungia ndani ya ukuta. Miaka kadhaa baadaye tetemeko la ardhi liliubomoa ukuta huo, na mfanyakazi mwingine akaikuta Biblia hiyo pale. Alipoisoma, akawa mtu mpya katika Kristo Yesu. Huwezi kukitikisa kitabu chenye nguvu ya namna hiyo juu ya maisha ya mtu.Years ago a missionary in Italy gave a Bible to a man who was building a wall. The man took it and with a laugh sealed it up inside the wall. Years later an earthquake tore down the wall, and another workman found the Bible there. Reading it, he became a new man in Christ Jesus. You cannot shake a book that has that kind of power over a man’s life.

III. Kanisa la Mungu haliwezi kutikiswa.III. God’s Church cannot be shaken.

Tunaposema kanisa, hatumaanishi majengo, mashirika, au madhehebu. Tunamaanisha mwili wa kiroho wa waaminio unaofanya kazi ya kuwaleta wanadamu kwa Mungu kupitia Kristo Yesu. Yesu alilipenda kanisa na akajitoa kwa ajili yake. Alisema, “Juu ya mwamba huu nitalijenga kanisa langu; wala milango ya kuzimu haitalishinda” (Mathayo 16:18).When we speak of the church, we do not mean the buildings, the organizations, the denomination. We mean a spiritual body of believers carrying out the work of bringing men to God through Christ Jesus. Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it. He said, “Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Sasa angalia kifungu hicho kidogo: “wala milango ya kuzimu haitalishinda.” Tunapokisoma tunafikiri, “Ni faraja kujua kwamba tunaweza kujilinda dhidi ya dhambi na mauti na Ibilisi.” Perry Sanders, mchungaji wa First Baptist huko Lafayette, Louisiana, anasema kwamba alipokuwa mvulana wa miaka kama kumi na miwili, mhubiri wake alihubiri juu ya kifungu hiki na akaichora picha ya tukio hilo. Alilionyesha kanisa kama ngome imara, iliyozungukwa na mtaro wa maji na ukuta mrefu, na mapepo ya kuzimu yakiigonga pande zote — mishale ya moto, majaribu, upinzani — yakifanya kila yawezalo kuliangamiza. Lakini licha ya hayo yote, majeshi ya kuzimu hayakuweza kulishinda. Unaweza kuwawazia watu wakisema, “Ee Bwana, majeshi ya kuzimu yana nguvu nasi ni dhaifu sana; lakini ukija upesi tutajaribu kushikilia.” Hiyo ni picha ya kufariji kwa namna fulani, lakini si sahihi.Now notice that little phrase: “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” When we read it we think, “It is a comfort to know we can defend ourselves against sin and death and the devil.” Perry Sanders, pastor of First Baptist in Lafayette, Louisiana, says that when he was a boy of about twelve, his preacher preached on this text and pictured the scene. He pictured the church as a solid fortress, surrounded by a moat with a high wall, and the demons of hell crashing against it on every side — the fiery darts, the temptations, the opposition — doing everything they could to destroy it. But despite it all, the forces of hell could not conquer it. You can imagine the people saying, “O Lord, the forces of hell are strong and we are mighty weak; but if You come soon we will try to hold on.” That is a comforting picture in some ways, but it is wrong.

Kwanza, kifungu kinataja “milango ya kuzimu.” Je, lango ni chombo cha kushambulia au cha kujihami? Lango hutumiwa kuzuia, kurudisha nyuma. Adui hashambulii kwa lango; lango ni muundo wa kujihami. Mwazie Shetani akisema, “Haya, vijana, bebeni malango tulishambulie kanisa. Hii itakuwa vita ya kweli, kwa hiyo shikeni kila lango mnaloweza kulipata.” Unashambulia kwa panga au kwa wapiga mishale au kwa magogo ya kubomolea, si kwa malango. Milango ya kuzimu ni miundo ya kujihami ya adui.First, the text refers to “the gates of hell.” Is a gate an offensive or a defensive structure? A gate is used to repulse, to throw back. The enemy does not attack with a gate; the gate is a defensive structure. Imagine Satan saying, “All right, boys, pick up the gates and tear into the church. This is going to be a real fight, so grab every gate you can find.” You attack with swords or archers or battering rams, not gates. The gates of hell are the defensive structures of the enemy.

Pili, kifungu kinasema milango ya kuzimu “haitalishinda” kanisa — na neno hilo hasa linamaanisha “kustahimili, kuzuia.” Kanisa liko safarini likisonga mbele; kuzimu iko katika hali ya kujihami, nayo haiwezi kustahimili.Second, the text says the gates of hell shall not “prevail” against the church — and that word actually means “to withstand.” The church is on the march; hell is on the defensive, and it cannot hold.

Sikiliza: kama kanisa lingejengwa juu ya mtu ye yote, hakika lingeanguka. Lakini limejengwa juu ya Mwamba imara, Yesu Kristo mwenyewe; na maadamu Mwamba unasimama, kanisa litasimama.Listen: if the church were built on any man, it would surely fall. But it is built on the solid Rock, Jesus Christ Himself; and as long as the Rock stands, the church will stand.

Mojawapo ya alama kuu za mji wa Calgary ni Mnara wa Calgary. Una urefu wa futi 626 hivi na unaweza kuonekana kutoka umbali wa kilomita 100. Licha ya upepo mkali wa Calgary, hakuna hatari kubwa ya mnara huo kupeperushwa, kwa maana una msingi imara. Kanisa ambalo Yesu alilijenga lina msingi imara kuliko mnara wo wote: limejengwa juu ya Yesu mwenyewe.One of the outstanding features of Calgary is the Calgary Tower. It stands some 626 feet high and can be seen from as far away as 100 kilometers. Despite the strong winds of Calgary, there is little danger of the tower blowing away, for it has a firm foundation. The church that Jesus built has a more solid foundation than any tower: it is built on Jesus Himself.

IV. Ufalme wa Mungu hauwezi kutikiswa.IV. God’s Kingdom cannot be shaken.

Farao alijenga ufalme, nao ukaanguka. Daudi alijenga ufalme, nao ukaanguka. Iskanda Mkuu, Kaisari, na Napoleon walijenga falme zao, nazo zikaanguka. Falme hizi zimeiendea njia ya dunia yote. Lakini Mungu anajenga ufalme ambao hautashindwa wala kuanguka kamwe.Pharaoh built a kingdom, and it fell. David built a kingdom, and it fell. Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Napoleon built their kingdoms, and they fell. These kingdoms have gone the way of all the earth. But God is building a kingdom that will never fail or fall.

Daima tunajaribu kujenga maisha yetu kwa vifaa visivyodumu. Tunakusanya fedha ili ziwe tegemeo letu; tunajenga juu ya kipaji, au afya, au familia. Lakini mambo haya yote ni ya muda tu, na Mungu anapoyatikisa, yanaanguka. Tunaweza kujenga falme zetu ndogo ndogo, lakini ufalme pekee usiotikisika ni wa Mungu.We are always trying to build our lives out of material that will not last. We accumulate money to be our support; we build on talent, or health, or family. But all these things are temporary, and when God shakes them, they fall. We may build our own little kingdoms, but the only unshakable kingdom is God’s.

Katika tetemeko la ardhi la mwaka 1923 Wajapani walijifunza mambo muhimu kuhusu vifaa vya ujenzi. Majengo dhaifu ya karatasi na mbao yaliporomoka; majengo ya matofali na chuma hayakuharibika. Sisi pia tunahitaji kumgeukia Mungu asiyetikisika kabla haijawa kuchelewa mno.In the earthquake of 1923 the Japanese learned some important things about building materials. The flimsy structures of paper and wood collapsed; the buildings of brick and steel were undamaged. We too need to turn to the unshakable God before it is too late.

Mungu anasema katika kifungu, “Mara moja tena nitatetemesha si nchi tu, ila na mbingu pia... ili vile visivyotetemeshwa vikae.” Historia yetu imejaa matikiso — kuangamizwa kwa hekalu la Sulemani, uhamisho kwenda Babeli, ambako watu walilia, “Tuuimbeje wimbo wa BWANA katika nchi ya ugeni?” (Zaburi 137:4). Baadaye, mwaka 410 B.K., makabila ya kishenzi yaliivamia Rumi na kuutikisa moyo wake kama hakuna kitu kingine kilichowahi kufanya, kwa maana ustaarabu huo na kanisa vilikuwa vimeoza na kupoa.God says in the text, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven... so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Our history is littered with shakings — the destruction of Solomon’s temple, the exile to Babylon, where the people cried, “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4). Later, in A.D. 410, the barbarians overran Rome and shook its morale as nothing else had done, for the civilization and the church had grown corrupt and cold.

Wakati mwingine Mungu hulazimika kuziondoa nguzo zinazotushikilia, ili kutuonyesha jinsi tunavyomhitaji. Nguzo pekee tunayoihitaji maishani ni Mungu mwenyewe; ni wakati tu tunapotegemea viegemeo vya kidunia na vya muda ndipo tuko hatarini. Vijana hutegemea afya na sura; wengine hutegemea fedha, wengine heshima au mamlaka, wengine mafanikio yao binafsi. Ni wakati mtu anapojiamini kupita kiasi na kujivuna ndipo asipoiona haja yake ya Mungu, naye yuko hatarini maisha yake kubomoka kwa sababu alijenga juu ya msingi dhaifu. Mwamba pekee ulio imara ni Yesu Kristo, Mwana wa Mungu.Sometimes God has to knock out the props that hold us up, to show us how much we need Him. The only prop we need in life is God Himself; it is only when we lean on earthly and temporal supports that we are in danger. The young depend on health and looks; some depend on money, some on prestige or power, some on personal achievement. It is when a man is supremely self-confident and proud that he does not see his need of God, and is in danger of having his life crumble because he built on a flimsy foundation. The only solid Rock is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

V. Mwana wa Mungu hawezi kutikiswa.V. God’s Son cannot be shaken.

Waebrania 13:8 inasema, “Yesu Kristo ni yeye yule, jana na leo na hata milele.” Historia imepata makosa hata kwa watu wakuu kabisa. Mmoja wa wana wangu aliwahi kuandika ripoti kuhusu wamishonari wa Alberta; baadhi yao walijitoa mhanga sana, lakini walifanya makosa mengi na walikuwa na kasoro nyingi.Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” History has found fault with even the greatest of men. One of my sons once did a report on the missionaries of Alberta; some sacrificed greatly, yet they made many mistakes and had many faults.

Kumekuwa na mawaziri wakuu mashuhuri, lakini wote walikuwa wanadamu; wasanii na walimu na wenye hekima mashuhuri, lakini wote hawakuwa wakamilifu. Biblia inasema juu ya kila mmoja wetu, “wote wamefanya dhambi, na kupungukiwa na utukufu wa Mungu,” na “hakuna mwenye haki hata mmoja.”There have been great prime ministers, yet they were all human; great artists and teachers and wise men, yet all imperfect. The Bible says of each of us, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and “there is none righteous, no, not one.”

Lakini Yesu Kristo, Mwana mkamilifu wa Mungu, hakufanya kosa hata moja maishani mwake. Hakuvunja sheria yo yote ya Mungu, na kwa upande chanya, sikuzote alifanya mapenzi makamilifu ya Mungu. Wakati mwingine mimi sijui hata mapenzi ya Mungu ni nini, na hakika siwezi kuyatii sikuzote. Lakini Yesu aliyatii.But Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, never made one mistake in His life. He never broke any of God’s laws, and positively, He always did the perfect will of God. Sometimes I do not even know what God’s will is, and I certainly cannot always obey it. But Jesus did.

Mara nyingi mtu anagombea nafasi ya uongozi wa umma, na wapinzani wake wanasema, “Tuone kama tunaweza kupata uchafu fulani juu yake, kitu cha kumshinda.” Na mara nyingi wanaweza kuharibu nafasi yake. Lakini sivyo ilivyo kwa Kristo. Kwa karibu miaka elfu mbili wanadamu wameshindwa kupata kosa lo lote katika tabia ya Yesu. Wamejaribu kumvua Uungu wake na kumwita mwanadamu tu; wamejaribu kumshusha hadi kiwango cha wanadamu wengine; lakini wote wameshindwa. Hawawezi kuiharibu tabia yake.Often a man runs for public office, and his opponents say, “Let’s see if we can find some dirt on him, something to defeat him.” And often they can ruin his chances. But not so with Christ. For nearly two thousand years men have been unable to find anything wrong with the character of Jesus. They have tried to strip Him of His deity and call Him only a man; they have tried to reduce Him to the level of other men; but they have all failed. They cannot destroy His character.

Hukumu ya vizazi vyote imekuwa ile ile ya Pilato, aliyekuwa mpagani: “Sioni kosa lo lote katika mtu huyu mwenye haki.” Fanya vivyo hivyo wewe mwenyewe. Yachunguze maisha yake; tazama kwa makini kila kitu alichofanya au kusema; hutapata kosa lo lote. Yeye ndiye maisha pekee yasiyo na doa, yasiyo na waa, yasiyo na dhambi, makamilifu. Sidney Lanier, mshairi, alimwita “Kristo wa Kioo Safi.”The verdict of the ages has been the same as that of the heathen Pilate: “I find no fault in this just man.” Do the same for yourself. Examine His life; look carefully at everything He did or said; you will find nothing wrong. He was the one spotless, stainless, sinless, perfect life. Sidney Lanier, the poet, called Him “the Crystal Christ.”

Na sikia wanadamu walivyosema juu yake:And hear what men have said of Him:

Yuda alisema, “Nalikosa nilipoisaliti damu isiyo na hatia.”
Akida alisema, “Hakika huyu alikuwa Mwana wa Mungu.”
Mapepo yalilia, “Wewe ni Mwana wa Mungu Aliye juu.”
Yohana Mbatizaji alisema, “Tazama, Mwana-kondoo wa Mungu, aichukuaye dhambi ya ulimwengu!”
Petro alisema, “Wewe ndiwe Kristo, Mwana wa Mungu aliye hai.”
Tomaso alitangaza, “Bwana wangu na Mungu wangu!”
Na Mungu mwenyewe alisema, “Huyu ni Mwanangu, mpendwa wangu, ninayependezwa naye.”Judas said, “I have betrayed innocent blood.”
The centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
The demons cried, “You are the Son of the Most High God.”
John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God.”
And God Himself said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Ndiyo, Yesu hawezi kutikiswa. Hakuwa na dhambi, na kwa sababu hiyo anaweza kuliondoa doa la dhambi maishani mwetu. Miaka kadhaa iliyopita mchungaji mmoja alikuwa Japani katika safari ya kuhubiri, akashuka hadi Kamakura kuiona sanamu kubwa ya Buddha iliyoketi pale katika bustani nzuri. Sanamu hiyo ina urefu wa futi arobaini, na uso wake una urefu wa futi nane. Mwaka 1495 iliangushwa na wimbi kubwa la bahari, na watu wakaanza kuiita “mungu asiyeweza kuinuka.” Baadaye waliirudisha mahali pake, nayo imesimama kwa mamia ya miaka — lakini haina nguvu na haimfanyii mtu ye yote kitu cho chote. Jinsi gani Kristo Mwokozi na Bwana wetu alivyo tofauti! Yeye haanguki kamwe; wakati na mawimbi hayamgusi kamwe. Mwana wa Mungu hawezi kutikiswa.Yes, Jesus cannot be shaken. He was sinless, and because of that He is able to remove the stain of sin from our lives. Several years ago a pastor was in Japan on a preaching mission, and he went down to Kamakura to see the great statue of Buddha that sits there in a beautiful park. The statue is forty feet high, the face eight feet high. In 1495 it was knocked over by a tidal wave, and the people began to call it “the god who couldn’t get up.” They later set it back in place, and it has stood for hundreds of years — but it has no power and does nothing for anyone. How different is Christ our Savior and Lord! He never falls; time and tide never touch Him. The Son of God cannot be shaken.