這幅畫已經掛在一戶人家的牆上好幾年了，被人忽視和遺忘。直到有一天，這幅畫從牆上掉落，被送到藝術品修復師那裡進行修復時，才被人發現它是失落已久的林布蘭名畫《賢士的崇拜》。人們原以為《賢士的崇拜》只剩下複製品，但沒想到這幅畫竟然是原作。於是，這幅畫的價值突然飆升至數億美元。

聖經描繪了類似的畫面：上帝的百姓看似被忽視和遺忘。先知以賽亞受聖靈感動，告訴上帝的百姓，他們將被帶到異國他鄉，飽受苦難、受人輕視。但上帝仍會與他們同在，並說：「你不要害怕！因為我救贖了你。我曾提你的名召你，你是屬我的」（以賽亞書43章1節）。儘管上帝的百姓會「從水中經過」、「從火中行過」（2節），但上帝依舊信實可靠。上帝的話語預示了祂在基督裡將臨的國度，並承諾有一天祂會領回「凡稱為我名下的人」（7節），將這些人帶到祂身邊。

有一天，上帝會召聚所有屬於祂的人，因為他們在祂眼中「為寶為尊」（4節），每個人都是祂獨一無二的原作！因祂無限的仁慈和憐憫，這位創造主珍愛我們。人們或許會忽視或忘記我們，但上帝永遠不會。

The painting hung on the wall of a home for years, unnoticed and forgotten, until one day it fell. When it was taken to an art restorer for repairs, he discovered it was a long-lost Rembrandt masterpiece titled The Adoration of the Magi. It had been thought that only copies of the work remained, but here was the original. Suddenly the painting’s value skyrocketed to hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Bible paints another picture of underestimated value and forgotten worth. Isaiah the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told God’s people that even though they would be taken away to a foreign land where they would suffer and be devalued, He would still be with them: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine,” He assured them (Isaiah 43:1). Though they would “pass through the waters” and “walk through the fire” (v. 2), His faithfulness to them would not change. With words that point to His coming kingdom in Christ, God promised that He would one day restore “everyone who is called by my name” (v. 7) and bring them home to Him.

God will one day gather all who are His because they “are precious and honored in [His] sight” (v. 4), each one an original! Our Creator values us because of His infinite kindness and mercy. The world may overlook us, but He never will.