Jesus Only by Vance Havner

In the awful confusion of these tragic days, many dear souls are weary of the torrent of words to no profit – stacks of books by blind leaders of the blind and panaceas from experts who do not know what the question is, much less the answer. They long to press through the throng to Christ himself and touch him for themselves. It is our hope and prayer that these meditations may help any and all who would see no man, but JESUS ONLY. There is only one safe and sure center of Christian experience, doctrine, and testimony and that is Jesus Christ. Stand at any other point, no matter how good, and you will become lopsided. Stand with him and you keep your balance, for by him all things consist. By him all Christian experience consists. The Christian life is simply Christ, the indwelling and outliving Christ. “To me to live is Christ.” The victorious life or the abundant or deeper life, whatever you choose to call it, is just Christ, more of Christ and less of self. He is our life, not just a teacher of how to live.

Vance Havner (1901-1986) was a unique servant of God whose spoken ministry spanned over seventy years and whose written ministry extended to almost forty books. Michael Catt, Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, says of him: "There was no one like Vance Havner. His preaching style was unique, powerful, and pointed. He was a master at turning a phrase, using humor to set up a point, and then driving the point home like a sharp, two-edged sword. Every Christian should read Vance Havner… If you love A. W. Tozer, you'll love Vance Havner. He was one of God's gifts to the church in the 20th century. His ministry and his preaching needs to be heard in the 21st century."