Let me tell you the story of a man named Aubrey.  He has told his story to many in the hope of helping them; so, I believe he will not mind my giving his real name.
        Aubrey began his teen age running with a street gang in one of our country’s larger cities.  In the gang he was first seduced to the use of drugs.  These began with marijuana, and then advanced to heroin, cocaine, ecstacy, and of course in between “hit” alcohol.   And, as so often happens, his addictions lead to a desperate need for money.  
 Aubrey had no formal education.  He didn’t have wealthy parents from whom he could beg, borrow or even steel money to pay for his drugs.  I’m sure you can guess the rest; Aubrey turned to crime.  First it was little things and then bigger and bigger thefts. Ultimately it was armed robbery.  In the mean time, he was dealing drugs of every kind and leading young people into addiction and their own lives of crime.
        Well, you may ask, “Did he know nothing of God?”  Of course he did.  When he was very young he had attended church and heard all about “Hell fire and brimstone.”  He had heard of the Ten Commandments.  And, he had also heard it said, “This religious stuff is just that – stuff and nonsense.  Besides haven’t you heard, if there ever was a God, he is well known to be dead now!”  Sure, Aubrey had heard of God and how He would punish Aubrey for all that he had done.  But, like so many young people, Aubrey believed that death is many years away.  Also, like most young people he felt that he was ten feet tall and bullet proof.  The mandate of youth who are “street wise” is:  Live fast, have a good time and die young.  
        However, Aubrey did not die on the street as so many of his fellows had.  God had work for him to do and do it he has. . . AND IS.
        Aubrey was caught by the police and then tried for his many crimes.  The result, he was sent to prison for an extended number of years.  What happened there is a modern miracle:  At first he was regaled with the usual, “Don’t you fear God’s wrath?  Don’t you know you must repent and give up your way of life?”  He had heard all of this before. And, as you and I would expect, this fell upon him as having no value what-so-ever.  In fact, all he did was to become more violent in temperament
        . . . .Next stop solitary confinment!
        Then two things happened and I have no knowledge of which was first.  He discovered he loved music and, like Johnny Cash, had a great talent for it.  He also found God.
        When he told me he had been lead to God, I had to ask how.  How could a man like the one he had been ever could ever be lead to God?  After all, he had denied God over and over.  How did his hardened heart ever found God?
         It was simple and yet so profound. He said.  “I  in prison I overheard two guards talking.  One insisted to the other that 'God loves even men like Aubry.'"  This was instead of the words of those preachers and chaplins who instead of telling me that God hated what I had done, told me that no matter what, ‘God loves you.’  Before, when someone brought up the discussion of religion I had a snappy comeback.  It was if I were struck dumb and could only think.  And think I did.  Then, within a short time I began to feel the warmth of His love.  I had to learn more and then do more.
       “When my prison time was served, I got together with three other fellows, more or less like me, and we formed a band that visited prisons.   The warden of the first prison was afraid that the prisoners would not like even popular type music with religious lyrics and that they might riot.  Thus, at first we were only permitted play our music in the exercise yard.  However, when men from all over the yard came to listen, we found that many wanted to learn about God’s loving forgiveness and how they might follow our Lord in the future. Over the years there have been literally hundreds who have “answered the alter call” following one of our musical and message presentations in prisons.”
       I could tell that Aubrey had something more to tell me.  Slowly he began, “Whenever I go back to the prison in which I served time I ask a special favor of the warden.  I ask to visit the solitary confinement cell in which I had spent time.  In a very firm voice I tell the prisoner there,  ‘I have set exactly where you are sitting at this moment and I have a message for you: God loves you.”
 
      Well, you now are probably asking, what does this have to do with the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican?  Let me recite it to you as Luke tells in Chapter 18.  
        Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
       `And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eves unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
        I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
        It seems to me that Aubrey answered the question just asked when he told me,  “God, in forgiving me so much has done so very much for me and I know that whom He gives much, He expects much.”  
        If I may paraphrase it, Aubrey has asked to be forgiven so very much that it is hard for him to believe such forgiveness can be given to him.  And Aubrey now wants not to be praised by men for his works but rather to be given the opportunity to help everyone he can to seek forgiveness such as he has been given. 
        He does not want the great praise of men the Pharasee so desired. His music alone could bring him that. But, like the publican, he is not looking for recognition by men for his work and piety.  His just wants to do, to the very best of his ability, the work that God has assigned him.  

*   *   *   *   *   *

[The choir sings Love Lifted Me.]