I have Purpose, Therefore I am

I told you all that my assignment for English was to prove that I exist. I am not sure how relevant I am and I am not completely sure that I am making a valid argument but this is all i could come up with. I honestly tried to prove that I existed without using the God Factor ( i didn't want to pull that card in this class right away) but thankfully I couldn't prove my existience without him ... in fact neither could Descartes. : ) If you have a minute feel free to read my paper... this is what I turned in.

The matter of existence relies solely on a person’s definition of existence. French Philosopher Renee Descartes defined existence when he said "I think therefore I am" (Descartes 1). Right now, I am thinking so I must in fact exist, but I want to go deeper. I want to prove that I exist because I have a purpose and if I did not have a purpose, I would cease to exist.

Descartes said, "I am a thing that thinks, that is to say, a thing that doubts, affirms, denies, understands a few things, is ignorant of many things, wills, refrains from willing, and also imagines and senses" (Decartes1). In acknowledging and accepting this I attempted, as did Descartes, to strip away all of my preconceived notions and conditioned ideas. I have found that if I am able to separate myself, meaning my mind, from my body I can better comprehend what it means to exist. When I identify myself with my body, my appearance, my occupation, my failures, or my accomplishments etc., it clouds my ability to see myself for who I really am. It is when I am able to become a mind so separated from my worldly identity that I am then able to find my purpose. In accomplishing that challenge my theory became as follows: I believe that I am an eternal being that always has and always will be in existence. My time here on Earth does not make up the constraints of my existence. I consider myself an entity consuming this body for a lifetime, however long or short that may be. I believe that physically and spiritually I have purpose and because I have purpose, I must exist.

I believe that I continue to physically exist on this earth because I have not yet accomplished my purpose. Last Wednesday a friend of mine, Jess, was in a horrible car accident; it was a miracle that she survived. In the very same day, another close friend of mine, Ashley, lost her best friend in a similar car accident. I believe that because Ashley’s best friend died his purpose on this earth was fulfilled, but I think that Jess has not yet fulfilled her purpose or her life would have been taken also. A person who had completed their purpose would have no reason to continue living. I am not advocating suicide with this statement because I believe that all things have purpose.

Everything physical and spiritual, living and lifeless has a purpose whether it realizes it or not. The wind and the rain, the sun and the moon, the oceans and the mountains, the plants and the animals, and especially you and me; we all have incredible significance that is beyond comprehension. I believe that everything in creation is part of an inconceivable cosmic plan. Everyone who lives, has ever lived, and will ever live, including me, has an important role in this plan and they exist to contribute to its completion. Therefore, I have an unfulfilled purpose so I continue to live, therefore I continue to exist. I have purpose therefore I exist.

Spiritually I have existed before, during, and after my physical existence. Even when I no longer physically exist I continue to spiritually exist to fulfill my eternal purpose. All things that exist, including me, contribute to the unfathomable plan. If everything in creation has a purpose in this vastly infinite plan, then there is obviously an author and creator of that plan. My ultimate purpose, the proof of my existence, is that I exist to worship my creator, the living God, my Father. In fact, all things in creation exist to honor and glorify God. So my purpose and my responsibility is to live a life of worship.

I exist because I have a relationship with my Creator. A part of my purpose is to live in constant communion with God through prayer. In that communion I am able to know him and begin to understand his ways. Also through prayer my heart becomes aligned with his heart, and I begin to desire what he desires. The ultimate result of communion with God through prayer is the willingness to surrender my will to his will in my life. Through constant prayer, God begins to reveal his plan and purpose for my life. In the same way, the Bible uncovers the truth of how God desires me to live my life. He gives me guidance though scripture and further reveals my purpose in his plan. The Bible gives me a clearer understanding of my Creator. Reading the Bible affirms my purpose which I exist to fulfill. Finding my purpose in prayer and scripture brings me closer to my Creator proving I exist. I know I exist if I know my Creator.

I recognize that I exist because I obey my Father by generously serving others, therefore living out my purpose. I have freewill so whether I obey God or not I am still carrying out his plan, but it is more beneficial for me to obey God. When I conform to God’s will I am blessed with divine gifts. For example, being generous is obeying God and is an additional purpose that gains heavenly rewards. When I am not concerned with the material things of this world I am willing to give of myself to serve others. When I serve others I am also serving God. My Maker designed me with gifts, talents, and abilities that he desires me to use to serve Him by serving others. He blessed me with these gifts so that I might better fulfill my purpose.
An additional important part of my purpose is relationships. God desires me to live in relationship with other believers. He desires me to have friendships and romantic relationships that honor, encourage, and reflect the relationship He has with me. God also wants me to live my life in such a way that I reflect him to others, and as a result they will notice a difference in me and desire to share in the same purpose. When I am able to acknowledge the sovereignty of my father in every area of my life and surrender my life with a thankful heart, I am able to accomplish my purpose.

Descartes concluded his existence based on the ability to form thought. For me, however, thought is not reason enough for being, but rather, true existence lies in finding life’s purpose. Therefore, I exist because I have purpose, and what is that purpose? My ultimate purpose, and I believe humanities ultimate purpose, is to love God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. Without God, there is no purpose. Without purpose, nothing exists.