Did you come that we might just survive?
Did you come so we could just get by?
Did you walk among us
So we might merely limp along beside?
I was bound, I have been set free
But I have settled for apathy
Did you come to make me new
And know I'd crawl right back into the skin you found me in?
It's where I am, not where I've been
You make me want to live
You make me want to live
You came to shake us
And to wake us up to something more
Than we'd always settled for
And you make me want to live
We've all been up on the mountain top
A golden glow that?s bound to soon wear off
Then it's back to the mundane telling tales of glory days
When we were hopeful that this change was here to stay
So why would a young man
Live in a waste land
When the castle of his dreams is standing by?
Why would a princess
Put on an old dress
To dance with her beloved and a chance to catch his eye?
"Live" by Nichole Nordeman is a powerful and thought-provoking song that challenges us to live our lives to the fullest and not settle for mediocrity. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where people are merely surviving, just getting by, and living in apathy. But the song reminds us that Jesus came to offer so much more.
The song begins with a series of rhetorical questions, asking if Jesus came just for us to survive and get by. It questions whether He walked among us just for us to limp along beside Him. These questions highlight the fact that Jesus came to bring abundant life (John 10:10), not just mere existence. He came to set us free from bondage and apathy (Galatians 5:1), and yet, we often settle for less.
The chorus of the song declares, "You make me want to live." It captures the heart of the song and reminds us that Jesus' presence in our lives should ignite a desire to truly live and experience all that He has for us. It's a recognition that without Him, we would be stuck in a cycle of monotony and complacency. But with Him, we have the opportunity to live a life of purpose and significance.
The song continues by acknowledging that although we have been set free, we often settle for apathy. We have experienced the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus, but we sometimes choose to crawl back into the old patterns and habits that He found us in. This speaks to the human tendency to revert to our old ways, even when we have experienced God's transformative power (Romans 7:15-20). But the song challenges us to break free from these patterns and embrace the new life that Jesus offers.
The bridge of the song poses a question, asking why we would choose to live in a wasteland when the castle of our dreams is standing right beside us. It's a metaphorical reminder that we often settle for less than God's best for us. We settle for a life of mediocrity when God has so much more in store for us. It echoes the sentiment of Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises that He has plans to prosper us and give us a hope and a future.
Overall, "Live" by Nichole Nordeman is a powerful reminder that we were created for so much more than just surviving. It challenges us to break free from apathy and live a life of purpose and significance. It reminds us that Jesus came to bring abundant life and calls us to embrace the newness that He offers. It's a song that encourages us to not settle for less than God's best, but to fully live the life that He has called us to.
