Slideshow image

This blog post is Part 3 of a series entitled "Unto The Nations" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN. 

Message Date: November 12, 2023

Click here to listen to this message

How often do I offer thought to the call on my life to go unto the nations?

Dare I say... not as often as I should. I would even boldly presume that for a majority of Christians, the thought rarely crosses one’s mind.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

Today we are going to read and study and even, at times, meditate on 51 different passages!

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Matthew 25:46

The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. 2 Thessalonians 1:9

And throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:50

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. Jude 1:7

They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Revelation 20:13-14

Of course, none of us knows for sure what horrors await those who will go to hell. But we do know this: Hell is not a curse word. This word is so very often misused. I’ve heard countless times in movies, in songs and even a few times in person people saying, “Hell yes!” or, “Go to hell!” Listen, there is no “Yes” that should ever be associated with this word. And, if we were to truly know of the horrificness of this place, I am convinced all of humanity would never, ever wish that anyone would go to the place the Bible describes as an everlasting misery, separated forever from the Holy God, of weeping and gnashing of teeth!

I spoke briefly at the Donelson Hermitage Chamber meeting this past week here in this very room. I had the opportunity to thank the Mayor O’Connell, who was in attendance here, for his thoughtful words he shared at the campus of Belmont University, where just the previous day he spoke at a prayer vigil at Belmont for Freshman student Jillian Ludwig, a Belmont freshman who sadly has since passed away from being hit by a stray bullet while she was walking near Belmont earlier this week. The Mayor spoke on the Belmont campus Wednesday, and I thanked him when he was here on our campus for attending that vigil at Belmont. The Mayor commented, “There truly is no guarantee for tomorrow!” And he is right.

I remind you today of these sobering words:

I have no promise of tomorrow.

Church, I appeal to you to listen today. We have no promise of tomorrow. No promise. So… keep this thought before you during our time of teaching today. I too implore you to keep ever before you the reality that: Hell is real. Hell is hot… really hot. Hell is not a curse word. Therefore, since I do not have the promise of tomorrow, and hell is real.. answer this question:

Am I heartbroken enough to go unto the nations whatever the cost, whatever the sacrifice, and whatever the necessity to save others from the hell that awaits those who do not know the Christ?

Think about this question as I talk today. Over the next two weeks, I want to answer two questions as to the “why” and the “how.” Why am I to go unto the nations? How am I to go unto the nations?

The “how” I am to go unto the nations will be an incredibly empowering and practical study for us. But before we can discuss such, it is imperative that we first discuss the “why” such a life mantra is to be so important for both the Church and for us each individually. Therefore, today I will discuss the “why” in preparation for next weeks’ time of teaching as to the “how” you and I are to go unto the nations proudly decreeing the message, “Jesus saves!” So here we go!

Why am I to go unto the nations? Well first, as I do...

1. I love as Jesus loves.
I presume I could say so very much in my attempt to adequately answer this question for you and for me: Why am I to go unto the nations? As I thought through this answer the past 6 days, I have found myself immersed in so very much joy. And here is why:

When I take the time to examine the life of my Savior, I learn so very much about His heart. And in doing so, I begin to capture a glimpse of His overwhelming love for the nations. 

When I think about love, I think about the love I have for Amy, and the girls, and my parents, and my brothers and my two canine sons, Boone and Bentley. I think about how I love sitting on the back of a boat floating on Percy Priest at sunset (I sure miss my boat). I think about iced tea and sitting on my back porch and eating at The Back Porch in Destin, FL. I think about my love for you and for this church. I could go on and on... But my point is... The love I have and experience and express is so inadequate compared to the love Jesus has for me. 

But here is what has brought me so much joy this week... The more I learn about the love of Jesus, the more I learn to love like Jesus. When you study the life of Jesus and you read about the Woman at the Well who, as a Samaritan, had been married 5 times and was living with a man who obviously thought so very little of her that he would not even give her his name. She meets Jesus, and as you read the story in John 4, you hear the love in His voice when Jesus says to her:

… Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:13-14

Too…when you read in John 11 that the close friend of Jesus, Lazarus, dies, you feel the compassion Jesus carries as he addresses the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. He cries, and He says to them: … Your brother will rise again. John 11:23 One can read just how very much Jesus loved them and loved Lazarus and offers them comfort in their time of extreme brokenness over the death of their brother.

When Jesus heals a blind man who has been blind from birth in John 9, you begin to truly comprehend just how very much our Savior loved everyone. He stops to talk with this man, a man possibly just like the homeless we walk past all across Davidson County who sit at stop lights and ask for money at gas stations and are obviously in need of so much more than food. Jesus stops to talk to such people all throughout the gospels and says, as he did to this blind man:

… While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5

Even while hanging on a cross in agony, while nailed, nailed to a tree, I do not even know which words to choose to accurately describe the kind of love that prays for the ones who have inflicted such brutality and grotesque pain upon our Savior. Rather than cursing them, Jesus begs His Father to forgive them, praying:

… Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34

And then, though Peter denies Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Jesus returns after His death and meets Peter (and the other disciples) on a beach, and He cooks Peter breakfast and says to Peter three times:

… Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. John 21:15

You see... when you study the full life of our Savior as He lived while on our planet, you begin to capture the fullness of the remarkable and undeniable love He has for people; for you… and for me. And in doing so, you too begin to understand the privilege it is we have been given to go unto the nations, just as did Jesus, and to share with others about this marvelous love. And when you do… you love as did Jesus.

Secondly, Why am I to go unto the nations? As I do...

2. I live as Jesus lives. 
11 men watched their Savior be crucified in the most horrific of ways. Once running for their lives; yet post the resurrection, running to their very deaths! Jesus said unto them:

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Luke 10:3

And in Luke 14:33 He proclaimed: In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Jesus didn’t pull any punches with these men. They clearly knew what lie ahead for them. And I truly believe this is how the 11 viewed their life-calling post the resurrection. They witnessed how this man lived. And they knew the way in which He lived eventually led to His death. I suppose they resolved that the same fate awaited them each. They realized that to live as Jesus is to die as Jesus. And these men chose to go unto the nations, to join Jesus in His suffering, and to follow their Savior unto death. Wow! Think about that. And as you do, let me have you consider this morning…As a follower of Christ, can I say that I am one who truly, truly strives to die to self, to let go of personal positioning, jockeying, and strategizing, and first and above all else endeavors to live a life surrendered to the highest call of not only pursuing Jesus but too pursuing being as Jesus?

You see…

There is an extreme difference between the one choosing to be a Christian and the one choosing to fully die to oneself as a Christian.

For the 11 disciples, they not only chose the Christ, the ferociously chose to become as Christ even unto death. This mantra afforded no other option than for one to “go” unto the nations and to lay down one’s life for such ideologies. The life of our Savior can be characterized by this one word: Obedience.

He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47

This is the starting place for the follower of Christ to go unto the nations: The life determined above all to live, walk, act, think, dream, respond, and be resolved to live the obedient life.

Jesus said: If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. John 14:21

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23

Such a life was the way of our Savior, and He embraced this way knowing the full cost of such a surrender. We know that at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was tempted three times to walk away from His commitment. Aren’t we so glad He did not! And after 40 days of such temptation, read the very next verse that fully characterizes the life surrender Jesus chose in full knowledge of what was awaiting Him just three short years later at Golgotha:

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

To obediently “go” was the way of the Savior when He was on this planet. This too is the command for me.

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Matthew 10:7

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Matthew 10:27

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2

Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” Acts 5:20

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60

I am to go unto the nations because Jesus chose to go. How Jesus lived, I too am to live.

Why am I to go unto the nations? As I do...

3. I preach as Jesus preaches. 
Matthew 24:3-14. I have so very much to speak with you about concerning this passage. And next week, we are going to walk verse by verse through this very detailed passage. 

Do you hear the passion in the words of our Savior? Every time I read this passage, I find myself wanting to shout from the mountaintops, “The end is coming y’all! It’s coming! And when it does, if you do not know Jesus as Savior, you lose. And you don’t just lose. You die. And you remain separated for all of eternity from the one who loves you more than anyone has ever loved you!”

Within two months after I arrived, I presented the church with a plan I entitled: Operation: Let’s Get Ready! Answer this: For what am I to get ready? Everyone, everyone, of us must know the answer to this question. Because... Knowledge of the right answer should invigorate me to love and to live and to preach as did Jesus! I am to get ready for the coming of our Lord! He is coming!

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28

Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7

We have been in Operation: Let’s Get Ready! mode for 3+ years. We have done so very much in these three years. This room we are in is evidence of our understanding as a church that the Lord is coming. This room needed an upgrade. I’m so very glad we gave it an upgrade. Aren’t you! As I mentioned earlier about the Mayor, Thursday of this week the Donelson + Hermitage Chamber Luncheon was held here. Along with Nashville’s new Mayor, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, we too were privileged to have in attendance various state and local representatives, police officers, several judges, and many business owners from the Donelson and Hermitage communities.

Within the last month, we have had 2 weddings on campus, two funerals, a weekly AA meeting, a family reunion, an outreach for the widowed, a social media training class, a young entrepreneurs meeting, just to name a few. We too have a catering business that is using our facilities each week. We are presently talking with a real estate company, a construction company, and a home school organization about using our facilities! And just Last Thursday, we had 8 different organizations on our campus doing a variety of work. You may not know this, but our Ministry Team is extremely intentional about loving on these people, praying with them, praying over them, and developing relationships with them. So very many people are now on our campus weekly, seeing our campus, and meeting our team, and much of this has to do with Operation: Let’s Get Ready! We are going unto the nations right here at 2526 Lebanon Pike each week!

We too have upgraded:
• Every LG room on campus.
• First Kids
• First Students
• The Annex
• The Library
• Much of our outdoor areas.

Our Worship Center is presently under renovations. And we will be back in the Worship Center in three short weeks. We just concluded our largest outreach of the year, Fall @ Donelson First, with what we believe was our largest outreach ever with close to, if not more than, 1,000 guests who were loved on very well! In two weeks, 45 Tennessee State Troopers will graduate here and will be joined by family, friends, and law enforcements from across the state to celebrate their accomplishments. And in one week from today, we will provide 100+ families with a full Thanksgiving meal they can take home and cook in their own homes for Thanksgiving with our Turkey To Table outreach that will happen at 1p next Sunday. If you haven’t grabbed a TTT bag, please do so today! And, next month, we begin having three churches in one here at Donelson First as we launch two new churches: Hispanic Church and Nepalese Church!

I’ve been asked often since I arrived, “Why are we moving so very fast on renovations, and outreach and updates and hiring and changes?” The answer is simple. As I shared earlier this morning:

There is no promise of tomorrow.

I can say wholeheartedly, if today is my last day on this planet and if I am tomorrow to stand before the Lord and asked, “Jeffrey, what did you do with your time while on this earth?” I know I can say: I have done with my time what you have asked of me, Lord. Now… I too know what the Lord has asked of me as your leader has not always been easy for you (nor for me) to digest. I have been tasked with what I am confident has been the most difficult season of my life and the life of Amy, Bailey and Brynnan. I too know this is the same for Pastor Stephen and Cristin and their family. But I too can say - - I am so excited about the changes we have obediently walked through as a Church. We will stay the course. Because we will continue to work to best position this church to go unto the nations!

I want end as we began this morning once again asking you to close your eyes and to meditate on the Holy Word of God.

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105:1-2

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:1-3

Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 1 Kings 8:56

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his: we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5

__________________________________

Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.