" Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'...But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:1-2, 20
The world is filled with people - the same audience Christ saw. There was a son like the lost son who disgraced his father's name and broke his mother's heart. The father became gray headed with disgrace. The mother died prematurely in grief. The son was sent to Huntsville, Texas penitentiary. But this jailhouse became this young man's hog pen. He did wake up. He change, he reformed. The guards noticed it and reported it to the warden. The warden reported it to the governor and the Board of Pardons. After several years' residency in that prison, the son was pardoned. The mustering out pay was given to the man, and he bought a train ticket to the far side of Texas. He also telegraphed his dad. The
telegraph stated, "Dad, I killed mother." I have broken your heart and disgraced our name. I am not worthy to be called your son. But I've changed. And the governor has pardoned me. I want to come home. I bought a train ticket that will carry me through my old hometown. And, Dad, if you'll forgive me and take me back, please tie a white flag in the old apple tree down by the railroad track. Father, if you cannot, then I'11 just pass through and never bother you again.
You can see the anticipation and sweat growing as the son boards the train, and you can hear the clickety-clackety clicks of the rails as the train moves along. You can hear the conductor as he sings out the stations along the way. Finally, as he reaches climactic proportion, the conductor rings out the name of the young man's hometown. The son places his hand over his eyes and closes his eyes tightly - he is afraid to look. But of necessity the hands are removed and the eyes are opened. And he sees the apple tree.
There was not that one-flag in that apple tree. There were a thousand! The father was afraid something might happen to a few and he wanted his son to know he had been forgiven, he was wanted back!

God will run.