Almighty God,
you show to those in error the light of your truth,
so that they might return into the way of righteousness;
give grace to all your people,
that we may reject everything that is contrary to our faith,
and follow all things that are agreeable to it,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Imagine you’re in a deep, dark cave. It’s pitch black. Where is the safety of light? Which way is out?
Our collect today paints a contrast between two ways. One is the way of righteousness, lit by the light of God’s truth. The other is the way of error, presumably one of darkness and unrighteousness. The pairing of truth with righteousness indicates that both ways are predominantly moral rather than merely mental. The ways concern how we behave, not just what we think. Our collect’s contrast between the two ways reflects a recurring biblical pattern.
The dark way of error leads deep down into a desperate desire to hide: “Who sees us? Who will know?” (Isaiah 29:15). It is the crooked path of folly (Proverbs 2:13) that follows the father of falsehood (John 8:44). As Titus warns us, even those who “claim to know God” may functionally “deny him” through detestable and disobedient actions (Titus 1:15-16). Perhaps the Lord has done mighty things through us in the past (Matthew 7:22). And yet, in the dark recesses of our own heart, do we cherish something that is contrary to our faith? Do we treasure, with a visceral desire, almost Gollum-esque, to control our reputation, our financial security, our physical health and freedom, our family’s welfare? Today, pause before Almighty God and ask him to shine the light of his truth on “any offensive way in me” that he may “lead me in the way of everlasting” (Psalm 139:24).
And what a way of everlasting truth, light and righteousness our Lord leads us in! His way is the way of truth, for his “lips have been anointed with grace” (Psalm 45.2) and there is nothing false or crooked or deceitful in him. His way is the way of light, for even those “sitting in darkness, the LORD is my light” (Micah 7:8). His way is the way of righteousness, for he “loves righteousness and hates wickedness” (Psalm 45:7).
All of this makes sense, for the Lord himself is righteous (Psalm 11:7), so he defines all righteousness. The Lord is light (1 Jonn 1:5), so only in his light do we see light (Psalm 36:9). The Lord is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), so we can trust that his way is the best way. We can ask him to teach us how walk in his truth (Psalm 86:11).
Given the essential perfections of our Almighty God, today, as we pray this collect together, we can have great confidence that our good God will indeed give grace to all his people. Whoever we are, wherever we’re from, whatever we’ve done or haven’t done, however dark or in error we may feel about ourselves, our God of all grace is willing and able to graciously strengthen us to reject every sin and follow him (Tit 2:11-14) all the way home (Ps 23:6). Today, we are one day closer.
So pray this with me:
Almighty God,
you show to those in error the light of your truth,
so that they might return into the way of righteousness;
give grace to all your people,
that we may reject everything that is contrary to our faith,
and follow all things that are agreeable to it,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.