“WHAT ARE WE LIVING FOR?”

March 7, 2015 by Frank King Photos

Thanks to the advice of a wise friend, I’ve been reading up about rock singer Freddie Mercury (1946-1991), the flamboyant, amazingly talented lead singer of Queen.

Even now, more than 30 years after his death from AIDS-related pneumonia, most of us can hum such classic Queen hits as We Are The Champions, Crazy Little Thing Called Love or Bohemian Rhapsody. Mercury wrote or co-wrote these and many other songs that are staples of classic rock radio.

By any measure of our culture, Mercury was an over-the-top, break-open-the-champagne success. Fame, wealth, peer recognition and adoring fans were all his.

So what can explain the lyrics in the Queen song The Show Must Go On? Several times, Mercury (who was by then quite ill) sings “What are we living for?”

In addition, during one of his last interviews, Mercury said:

“I don’t have any real friends. I don’t think I do. I discard them. People tell me they’re friends, but there we are. I don’t believe them.”
“You can be in a crowded area and still be the loneliest person, because you don’t really belong to anyone.”
“In fact, my kind of loneliness is the hardest to bear. Loneliness doesn’t mean being shut away in a room by yourself.”

Does this sound like a man who had it all? Despite the approval of our culture, despite the 18-room London mansion, the extraordinary voice and the legion of male and female lovers, Mercury showed me (and you) something important: these are not the stuff of contentment. Indeed, these are lies.

In his last days, did Mercury pursue something deeper and more eternally important? We’ll never know. But it’s not too late for you and me to do that.

Strip away what our culture says is vital (and what Mercury proved is NOT) and you’re left with something very, very controversial. You’re left with God, your creator.

I’ll be bold and declare that beyond friends, parents, relatives, spouses and children, the only relationship that is completely loving and completely permanent (so permanent that it continues beyond this life) is with God.

God created you. And He offers you the gift of Jesus of Nazareth, who many people believe is God’s Son.

Jesus teaches us how to live — to REALLY live — with such crazy notions as forgiving your enemies, turning the other cheek, loving your neighbour as much as you love yourself, not judging others unless you’re ready to be judged the same way, and doing for others what you want them to do for you.

Jesus did more than teach. He told his followers that for everyone who believes in Him, He would die on a cross to make up for the wrong things they’ve done and the right things they’ve failed to do. Then He did it. And original-source documents of His life on Earth say He came back to life.

Just by believing in Him and following Him, you can have Jesus wiping out all your failures, too. And you can have a richer and fuller life NOW. Interested? Post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.

Posted in Me & The World | Tagged AIDs, Bible, Christianity, Freddie Mercury, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Queen, The Show Must Go On, theology, Was Freddie Mercury depressed?, was Freddie Mercury happy?, Was Freddie Mercury lonely? | 22 Comments

22 Responses

on March 7, 2015 at 9:40 am | Reply I 53:5 Project

Reblogged this on The Isaiah 53:5 Project and commented:
I have been a Queen fan since I was a kid so I found this post about Freddie Mercury that also contains a biblical lesson fascinating.
- on March 12, 2015 at 10:14 pm | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Thanks for reblogging. 🙂
  - on March 13, 2015 at 3:45 am I 53:5 Project
    
    You’re welcome
on March 7, 2015 at 9:48 am | Reply insanitybytes22

Great post! I am still an avid Queen fan. Freddie Mercury however, kind of breaks my heart, so I have avoided reading too much about him. It’s sad to watch so many people full of talent, blessed with fame and fortune, and yet so unhappy.

That is what happens when we try to pour “things” in the abyss of our souls. Only Christ can truly fill you up. So many of us are driven to try and find an external solution for an internal problem and we make ourselves miserable in the process.
- on March 12, 2015 at 10:15 pm | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Great thoughts! Thanks for reading and contributing. 🙂
on March 7, 2015 at 9:53 am | Reply fertiileground

Reblogged this on Fertiileground's Blog and commented:
Greetings, Grace and peace in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit:-
This post falls in line with my recent post, which I posted on my blog http://www.ian@fertiileground.wordpress.com; Under “Yet we Shall Live”
Truly we are able to have reason to live, thru Christ Jesus, as our Lord. He is the Way the Truth the Life. Let’s therefore call upon His Name to receive Life.
Yours in Christ
Ian R Lottering
founder/administrator/publisher Fertiileground’s Blog
http://www.ian@fertiileground.wordpress.com
on March 7, 2015 at 10:06 am | Reply Candice Mark

Spot on! It’s easy to get distracted by material things (including relationships), and this post was a helpful reminder that the only relationship that really counts is the one we have with God. Thanks for that!
- on March 12, 2015 at 10:16 pm | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Glad it was useful, Candice. Every one of us needs that reminder now and then. 🙂
on March 7, 2015 at 11:16 am | Reply Julie Garro

I am a Queen fan so I was intrigued to read this post. I think you got it right. We may all have friends and great relationships, but the only one that matters is the one with God. Great post. Thanks
on March 7, 2015 at 1:35 pm | Reply Norma Larroza

I am a Queen fan too. I agree with Julie Garro, what matters most is our faith with God, that makes us happy and contented.
on March 8, 2015 at 5:56 am | Reply Mike Henneke

Sometimes you amaze me Frank. This is one of those times. Well said
- on March 12, 2015 at 10:16 pm | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Thanks, Mike. 🙂
on March 8, 2015 at 8:29 am | Reply My Article Read (3-6-2015) (3-7-2015) | My Daily Musing

[…] “WHAT ARE WE LIVING FOR?” […]
on March 8, 2015 at 12:20 pm | Reply lovelifeandgod

For his sake, I hope Freddie found the peace his soul must have been longing for, because it’s often when you totally break down, wonder at your existence, and cry out in despair that God finds room to place Himself in your life.
on March 12, 2015 at 12:51 am | Reply art & life notes

Thanks for stopping by and liking my post.
When I was in high school, Queen was my favorite band, hands down. Someday I would like to know the whole story of Freddie’s spiritual journey. A lot of people don’t know that Queen’s early albums had some overtly biblical-ish songs: “Jesus”, “Prophet’s Song”, and “Liar” are examples that I remember off the top of my head.
on July 25, 2016 at 2:51 pm | Reply Kurt

Well in this case God hated Freddie Mercury because Freddie was gay and God hates that… Of course God could have simply altered Freddie’s bio-chemistry so that he wasn’t so “confused”, but God chose to instead hate him. So Freddie truly was alone, without even a God to love him.
- on July 26, 2016 at 9:41 pm | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Kurt, I’m sure you know this Bible verse: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.”
  There are no footnotes listing exceptions, Kurt. ‘The world’ means EVERYONE. Including Freddie Mercury. Including YOU.
  Do you believe this Bible quote is a lie, simply because Freddie Mercury couldn’t find happiness in everything offered to him by this broken world?
  - on April 7, 2019 at 1:59 pm Denise B
    
    God loves us all and is a forgiving God as everyone sins and God still forgives!!!!
- on May 20, 2021 at 7:50 pm | Reply Cathy Artis
  
  God doesn’t hate his own creations. The hate comes in when some people try to speak for God. If you don’t believe that gay people are born that way, then maybe you should try to hate the sin and love the sinner.
on November 17, 2018 at 2:20 am | Reply Lisa Maria

Very well written and to the point. Only true friend is Jesus
on June 14, 2020 at 5:21 am | Reply goodguy

The Tree of Life is about everyone’s getting a specific sets of skills/targets when born. Freddie couldn’t do anything else because he was given a desire much greater than us.

Your soul’s judgment in the afterlife will be made according to how successful you were living up to those goals. Famous artists create art that bring light in the hearts of millions, the downside is that those artists are lonely. Most people have life goals set in having a family and that is alright too.

So the amplitude is smaller but everyone has to have the bravery needed to achieve their goals. Not doing anything in life because of fear, is the only recipe for a bad judgment as the human race is not about pure survival, it’s a test.

The point is, you cannot compare anyone with anybody else because these goals are made on a person-to-person basis. You do what you have to do and that’s all there is to it.
- on June 14, 2020 at 6:54 am | Reply Frank King Photos
  
  Thanks for your comment. I’m so thankful that when it comes to my fate after this life is finished, I don’t have to worry about how I lived up to any goals. Because I follow Jesus of Nazareth, I know I’ll spend eternity with my creator. I hope everyone who reads this blog considers following Jesus so we can meet and rejoice in Heaven. 🙂