The question, "Why am I here?" confronts everyone. It is a basic question because it involves an understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him. The only way to know man and true existence is through, an understanding of God. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"(p. 387) Mary Baker Eddy defines God as, "The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." As one ponders the question, "Why am I here:" in the light of Christian Science, his attention is called to the fact that God is the only Mind and that man is the highest manifestation, of this Mind; that God is Truth and that man, His image and likeness, expresses and represents God eternally. He realizes then that, in true being, man reflects God.
Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, said (John 18:37), "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." He bore witness to the truth that man expresses God. The light of Truth which Jesus manifested destroyed error of every type and nature. He overcame all the beliefs of mortal mind—of sin, sickness, and death. He went about doing good. Mrs. Eddy writes(Science and Health, p. 54): "Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error." She adds in the following paragraph, "In witness of his divine commission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter."
Jesus said to his followers(Matt. 5:14, 16): "Ye are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." As followers of the Christ, Truth, we too must let our light shine by demonstrating over sickness, sin, and death. The command is(Matt. 10:7, 8): "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Unless we are fulfilling this obligation in some measure we are not letting our light shine. As we live in accordance with Principle and express the light of Truth, our presence will give forth healing and joy. In this way we bear witness to Truth. This light which we are commanded to let shine is not limited, since it does not originate in us, but is derived from God.
