Notice here, he's talking about people who have loved the Lord; so it's the positive aspect that is being remembered - those actions and activities that earn acknowledgement by Jesus - those are the ones that we will be seen to have done. The failures, the mistakes... none of that will be visible, or seen. It's the way Jesus has seen, and evaluated our life, and chosen to honour us.
Imagine passing into eternity, facing judgement, and the Lord brings back to memory all the little things you did all through your life - and those things accompany you.
It's not that your works can come from heaven to earth; or from earth to heaven. No, what will happen is: the honour of them, is going to be carried in your life, and will be recognisable to people.
He talks about us having ‘wedding garments’.
Revelations 19:7 - “Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready - and to her was granted she'll be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen are the righteous acts of the saints.”
Notice it says that in the glory of the coming kingdom, we will be ‘clothed with white garments’; but the nature of the garments reflects the acts that we have done, which have served God. Any works that were not consumed by fire at the judgement time; that survived the fire, because they were operating out of love, and out of being led by the Holy Spirit, then they will form the foundation of our clothing - for eternity!
Such a short time that we have, so you want to be busy... don't you? Our clothing will reveal to everyone how we lived our life on earth. When people look at your clothing in eternity, they will know you've maintained the First Love for Jesus. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you kept your first love. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you did many things, that were motivated by love, to bring honour to Him. It'll be obvious to everyone, that you were a person who was walking with God.
Now that's a great encouragement! A great encouragement, to see that it's not just now, and it'll all pass away... that we'll just forget all about it. No, God has a way of dressing us, and clothing us in glory, which will reflect the measure of what we were like, and what we did on the earth.
Revelations 16:15 - “Behold, I am coming like a thief (or I'm coming secretly)! Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
Jesus warned us; and frequently talks about watching and praying. Watching and praying… that you don't fall to temptation; watching and praying… that you're ready for His coming; watch and pray… overcome temptation - all these things.
It says: “watch and pray”, and: “keep your garments, lest you walk naked, and they see your shame”. “They” - that must be other believers. He's saying: we must be careful to keep our lives passionate, or ‘on fire’ for the Lord; and not become complacent and apathetic, or passive and shut down - or ‘lukewarm’. Otherwise, it will be revealed to all.
If you were a believer who came to Christ and started out good; but then slowly slacked off, and ended up pretty slack, then it will be obvious that you have no clothing that would bring honour to you.
1 John 2:28 - “Now little children, abide in Him (maintain intimate connection with Jesus), so when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming and shrink away from Him at the shame of His coming.”
It's another version of it! What it's saying is: when the Lord comes, you want to be bold and confident, because of how you lived your life; and not: oh my God, I've been caught out, and embarrassed - that now you're in a bad state.
It says: “He will come at a time when no one knows” - so you've no idea when the coming of the Lord is. When He comes, you want to be passionate - on fire, full of the Holy Ghost, and doing good things for the Lord! It doesn't mean we won't have our ups and downs. Remember, it's the practice; it's the trend of where our life is going.