Erlo Stegen emphasizes the urgency of awakening from spiritual slumber, as our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. He warns against living aimlessly without a clear goal, using the analogy of a jester and a king to illustrate the importance of preparing for eternity. Stegen urges believers to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, living in a way that reflects Christ in their lives. He challenges the congregation to consider their spiritual state and to ensure they are actively growing in grace, preparing for the imminent return of Christ. The sermon calls for a life that testifies to the transformative power of Jesus, urging believers to shine brightly as children of light.

Rom 13:11-14 "11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Our salvation is at hand – it is nearer than when we first believed. A certain lady was asked why she saved so much, being old. She replied that she wants an expensive tombstone when she dies. So some people do have a goal but it is a worthless goal. Many Christians live without a goal in life and their lives just wander aimlessly. Without a clear goal your life will go nowhere. Paul had a clear goal in life and his life testified to the fact, “for to me to live is Christ”. The story is told of a jester for whom his king gave a specific task. He had to look for a greater fool than himself. The king gave him a staff to hand to that person. But he travelled far and wide and couldn't find anyone. So he returned to the king to tell the king that he couldn't find a greater fool than himself. When he got back to the palace he got the message that the king was on his deathbed. And the king asked to see him. So the king told the jester that he was going to die. The king said “I've got to go on a long, long journey and I don't know where it will take me and what is going to happen on this journey.” So the jester replied, “surely o king if you go on such an important long journey then you've made all the necessary preparations.” But the king replied, “no I haven't considered it till now; neither have I made any preparations for this journey.” Then the jester replied, “O king I cannot believe it. I'm shocked. If you haven't made preparations for such an important journey then I have to hand this staff to you.” If you were to die today do you know where you will end? Do you know where your own child will go to if he or she were to die today? If that heavenly messenger should come to you today and say, “I've been sent to you. The Lord requires your soul.” What will you do? Where will you go? Someone said that, “If you lose your money you've lost something small. If you lose your reputation and fame you've lost much. But if you lose your soul you've lost everything and you're the greatest fool on earth.” There's no greater fool than you if you lose your soul. Rom 13:11, “awake out of your sleep”. A person that's asleep doesn't notice what is happening around him. Our Heavenly Father should rejoice because of you. Is it happening or are you fast asleep? Are you busy with many things but not what He is about. Souls should be saved through your life. You should be a child of light. Leave the works of darkness. If you are still asleep pray and ask the Lord to wake you up. It is time that we live for God as we should as heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. We as His Bride should be preparing for His coming. His coming is at hand. It is nearer than ever before and nearer than when we first believed. We should never lose the first love but grow in grace and progress. There is no backsliding or standing still in the Christian life. Just growing in the grace of God. Christ is our life. Our homes should testify to that fact. Our children should testify to it wherever they are. We should shine brighter than the sun. Woe to us if we should be found asleep when He returns for us. What does it mean to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”? Just as we put on clothes and people see the clothes we've put on, so too we should be dressed with Christ and when people look at us they should see Christ with Whom we are clothed.