There Will be a Day

In his recent single, musician Jeremy Camp sings:

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more,
We’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

Jeremy receives inspiration for this song from Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

These words are, most definitely, words of hope for us all, but what gives the lyrics to his song so much more depth and meaning is in understanding Jeremy’s story.

Early in his ministry, Jeremy met a young woman named Melissa. The two began a relationship together, but it didn’t last long before Melissa needed a break. So, they parted ways and went about continuing their ministries. It wasn’t long before Jeremy received a call that would change his life forever.

Melissa, now 20, had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Jeremy immediately went to the hospital to visit her. After spending time with her, he left confused and broken at seeing somebody he cared about in pain. Soon, he found himself praying strange words to God: “God, if you want me to marry Melissa knowing she could die from this cancer, then I will....” On October 21, 2000, after five months had passed and with Melissa feeling much better, the two became husband and wife; however, their happiness together did not last long.

While on their honeymoon, Melissa began having complications once again, and, upon returning, they received the news from the doctor they had feared. Melissa only had months to live. On February 5, 2001, Melissa breathed her last as Jeremy and his family sang songs of worship. Jeremy recalls the day as a time “...when (he) was learning something about obedience.”

Today, many are hurting, suffering, heart broken, and torn. Along with the world’s problems of terror, war, poverty, and hunger, we also face our own daily struggles. There are days we ask God why, and there are even days we feel like giving up.

But praise be to God for the hope he brings of a new day. Praise be to God for his grace, mercy, and love. And praise be to God for the life he freely offers in Jesus.

There will indeed be a day when he will wipe away all death, mourning, crying, and pain, and we will see our savior, Jesus Christ, face to face.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

-Matt