"This Life Lives" (Viva La Vida) - What the Coldplay Song Really Means

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Windswept with biblical images of sovereignty, Coldplay's Viva La Vida (2008) is an expression of the final rationalisation to life according to original design--a longing realised in the returned cling to the emblazoned bosom of God--the antithesis of a 'fallen Adam' as maybe represented in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling painting.

So, what does that mean?

Apparently "Chris Martin told The London Times [November 28, 2008], he saw this song about a deposed dictator decreased to 'sweep[ing] the streets I applied to own' as getting 'really positive.' He explained that he saw it as 'more like a turning-over-a-new-leaf kind of song.' Martin added that its [sic] like I've messed up, 'and I don't mind getting punished, but I can get redemption.'"[1]

A 'final rationalisation' indeed. I recall becoming in a worship service when where I could tell the young individual leading, though emotionally taken with God in their music, possibly didn't get the whole self-sovereignty thing he was nonetheless possibly incredibly significantly a part of.

It is like, to realise the accurate value of life--to be truly authentic i.e. to be at peace with yourself as becoming really under God--you require to have been tripped up enough to lose the prideful edge that a silver-spooned upbringing is going to handicap you with. I mean, it is no fine just becoming hooked in emotionally. There is no substitute for a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Ps. 51:17).

I keep in mind a time when I thought I ruled the planet--effectively at least I acted as if I could arrange my destiny. At this time I'm not so certain. In fact, I generally don't want a bar of it. But, who would ever want to be king? To be a self-sovereign would mean a complete eternal deal of responsibility that I'd not want a part of these days. Still, there are so numerous sucked in and we're all sucked in situationally i.e. from time to time.

And it is only the genuinely saved who can now see the enrolling peace and redemptive bliss out there in sweeping the streets alone as compared with commanding the legions to the beckoned call of the private will.

And this is the original design of life or as close to it in the sight of original sin. The whole planet although will rather rule their worlds than give their lives over to the only 1, Jesus, who would basically redeem them to the actual Viva la Vida life.

Is there some thing missing in your life, some thing deep down--some thing you can't explain? Well, I can tell you, this life lives, but only by God's grace and sufficiency (most of the time). Life can only be lived set free from oneself. It is the only accurate way to live life. When God's brought us to the end of ourselves--at last, freedom! And, if we're regular, we'll want lots of practice!--a lifetime in truth.

But, then again, no one is alot more patient than God.

© S. J. Wickham, 2009.

[1] Song Facts, Viva La Vida - Coldplay (2008). Retrieved 19 September 2009. Source: