著名藝術家藤村誠（Makoto Fujimura）在他一本談到藝術和信仰的著作中（Art + Faith: A Theology of Making），描述了日本古代的金繕修復藝術。採用這種修復方法的藝術家會用天然漆，將破碎的茶具等陶器的碎片黏合在一起，並在裂縫處灑上金粉。藤村誠解釋道﹕「『金繕修復』不是修補或黏合破損的容器。相反地，這項技術使破損的陶器比原來的更漂亮。」這項技術始於幾個世紀前，那時一名軍閥最喜歡的杯子破了，後來被修復得十分精美，於是金繕修復就成為一種受人推崇和喜愛的藝術。

先知以賽亞描述上帝巧妙地復興這個世界。雖然我們因叛逆和自私而破碎，但上帝應許會「造新天新地」（以賽亞書65章17節）。祂的計劃不僅是要修復舊有的世界，更是要使這世界煥然一新，將我們的破碎塑造成一個閃耀美麗的世界。這個全新的創造將是如此驚人，以至於「從前的患難已經忘記」，「從前的事不再被記念」（16-17節）。有了這個新的創造，上帝不必忙於遮蓋我們的錯誤，而是釋放祂的創造力，讓醜陋的變成美麗的，讓死去的重獲新生。

當我們審視自己破碎的生命時，無需感到絕望，因為上帝正進行祂美好的復興計劃。

In his wonderful book Art + Faith: A Theology of Making, renowned artist Makoto Fujimura describes the ancient Japanese art form of Kintsugi. In it, the artist takes broken pottery (originally tea ware) and pieces the shards back together with lacquer, threading gold into the cracks. “Kintsugi,” Fujimura explains, “does not just ‘fix’ or repair a broken vessel; rather, the technique makes the broken pottery even more beautiful than the original.” Kintsugi, first implemented centuries ago when a warlord’s favorite cup was destroyed and then beautifully restored, became art that’s highly prized and desired.

Isaiah describes God artfully enacting this kind of restoration with the world. Though we’re broken by our rebellion and shattered by our selfishness, God promises to “create new heavens and a new earth” (65:17). He plans not merely to repair the old world but to make it entirely new, to take our ruin and fashion a world shimmering with fresh beauty. This new creation will be so stunning that “past troubles will be forgotten” and “former things will not be remembered” (vv. 16–17). With this new creation, God won’t scramble to cover our mistakes but rather will unleash His creative energy—energy where ugly things become beautiful and dead things breathe anew.

As we survey our shattered lives, there’s no need for despair. God is working His beautiful restoration.