The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ came to do three things. He

“The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ came to do three things. He came to have my past forgiven, you get a purpose for living, and a home in Heaven.” — Rick Warren

In this saying, Rick Warren, the modern shepherd and teacher of many souls, speaks in words simple yet profound. Within them lies the essence of the Christian faith, expressed not as theology alone, but as a living truth that reaches to the depths of the human heart. He speaks of three great gifts — forgiveness, purpose, and eternal hope — the three pillars upon which the spirit may stand unshaken amidst the storms of the world. Each is a lamp to guide us: one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.

The first gift, “to have my past forgiven,” is the cry of every soul that has ever lived. For who among mortals is without stain? Since the beginning of time, man has carried the burden of his own wrongdoing, searching for cleansing in rivers, in rituals, in the silence of the wilderness. Yet, as Warren reminds us, the heart finds peace not in denial, but in redemption. The coming of Christ into the world was not to condemn, but to restore; not to recall what was lost, but to renew what was wounded. His forgiveness does not erase the past, but transforms it, turning pain into testimony and guilt into grace.

The second gift, “a purpose for living,” is the flame that keeps the spirit awake. For forgiveness heals the wound, but purpose gives the healed man reason to rise. Without purpose, life drifts like a leaf upon the river — moving, yet meaning nothing. Warren, echoing the wisdom of Scripture, teaches that in following Christ, one finds not only peace of conscience but also a calling. Every act of kindness, every word of love, becomes a reflection of divine will. To live with purpose is to walk each day as a servant of light, knowing that your existence is neither accident nor coincidence, but intention.

The third gift is the greatest promise of all: “a home in Heaven.” It speaks to the longing that no power on earth can still — the yearning for eternal belonging. For man may build cities and nations, yet his heart remains restless until it finds its rest in the eternal. Warren’s words remind us that this world, with its beauty and sorrow alike, is not the end but the beginning. Heaven is not merely a place beyond the stars; it is the fulfillment of love’s journey, where every tear is wiped away, and the soul, weary from struggle, is finally at peace.

Consider the story of John Newton, once a slave trader, later the author of Amazing Grace. His life was marked by sin and cruelty, yet through faith he found forgiveness. His heart, once lost in greed, was given new purpose in preaching the mercy he had found. And at the end of his days, he spoke of Heaven not as escape, but as homecoming — a place prepared for him by the One who had redeemed him. Newton’s life, like Warren’s words, teaches that no one is too far gone to be forgiven, too broken to find meaning, or too late to come home.

Thus, Warren’s message resounds not as mere doctrine, but as a map for the human journey. The past is healed through mercy; the present is sanctified by purpose; the future is secured by hope. These are not distant promises, but realities we must embrace daily. To live as one forgiven is to release bitterness and shame. To live with purpose is to serve and create in love. To live with Heaven in your heart is to walk in peace, unafraid of tomorrow.

So let this wisdom be carried in the soul like sacred fire: Seek forgiveness, that your past may no longer chain you. Seek purpose, that your days may no longer drift in emptiness. Seek Heaven, that your heart may no longer fear the night. For in these three — forgiveness, purpose, and eternal hope — lies the fullness of life. And in them, we find not only the promise of Christ, but the destiny of every soul that dares to believe.