Confirmation

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

NASB Bible

I photographed a wedding at the Chapel of the cross in Cedaredge, CO., where doves were released after the ceremony—surprising the Bride and Groom. I recognized that something was special about this moment, and I called out to God in prayer. He guided me to the best possible position to capture these divine birds taking flight. I looked through the lens and pressed the shutter continuously, endeavoring to catch one great picture and succeeding beyond my creativity.

The photograph is named Confirmation, and it is numbered Alef א, the Hebrew letter, and number meaning: “one,” “master,” “teacher,” “oxen,” “strength,” “head of household,” “one-thousand,” and more. The Alef is made using an upper and a lower Yud (י ), one face up and one face down. A diagonal line, Vav (ו), separates and connects them. God is above, we are below, and Jesus is our connector.  

My vision of scriptures depicted through photography was confirmed through this photograph symbolizing the Baptism of Jesus. God: Father (open doors of the church—God speaking), Son (white cross), and Holy Spirit (dove next to the cross) are represented in one photo, establishing the first “God Picture.”

God predicts events, just as He predicted and gave the vision of Jesus, His chosen servant, in Isaiah forty-two. According to the witness of the gospels, God echoed the same declaration, “You are my son, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased.” For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

Studying the scriptures, I glean from the steps of those that have received visions before me: Ezekiel, Daniel, Joseph, Peter, Paul, and many others. Their lives testify that God has communicated in the past through visions and dreams. God still gives visions and dreams today, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” (Joel 2:28) 

God is omnipotent—He is all-powerful. (Amos 9:5), “For Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva’ot (Lord God of Hosts) is the one who can melt the earth with His touch and make all who live on it mourn. It will all rise, just like the Nile, and then subside like the Nile in Egypt.” God is omniscient—He is all-Knowing. (Psalm 139:4), “Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.” God is omnipresent—He is all-present. (Hebrews 4:13), “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” 

God stands alone; He is one (Deut. 6:4), “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is one.” God is complete; nothing can be added or taken from God (Hebrews 13:8), “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He cannot be divided (Mark 3:24-25), “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.” He keeps His word (Numbers 23:19), “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” 

According to Isaiah forty-three, “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God- there never has been, and there will never be. I, yes, I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First, I predicted your rescue, and then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are my witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. “From eternity to eternity, I am God. No one can snatch you out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

He has invited me to be His eyewitness, “Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” (Habakkuk 2:3)

I have heard, I have seen, and I have encountered Him. He is the creator and sustainer of everything in heaven and on earth. He is ever seeking the moment to show Himself to the ones He loves—created for relationship and His pleasure. I testify that God spoke to me on that September drive, and I hold the photograph confirming that He was the one who gave me the vision. He is who He claims to be and does everything He says He will do. He cannot fail; He never has. 

© Ana Gill 2022