Where is our Hope?

Very blessed to be sitting under faithful preaching for 7+ years now.

This past Sunday, Mark ended his sermon pointing us to the hope that we Christians have because of Jesus's victory on the cross and on our behalf if we are his.  He shared Isaac Backus's 4 Observations on Suffering:

• manifold trials attend God's people in this world;
• these are sent because we have need of them -- to kill pride, to cure us of worldly-mindedness and love of the creature, to rouse us from our slough and to quicken our regard to eternal things;
• these temptations and sorrows continue but for a short season;
• in the midst of them, God gives His saints springs of great joy.

Reminded me of what we've been studying as a small group in 1 Peter ...

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  1 Peter 1:3-8