Let's look to Revelation 1:1,2.
This is a revelation from Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to His servant John who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John heard a loud voice telling him to write a book to be sent to seven churches. After he heard that initial instruction, Paul continues in chapter 1: 12-18.
When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lamp-stands. And standing in the middle of the lamp-stands was someone like the Son of Man, He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in His right hand, and a sharp two edged sword came from His mouth. And His face was like the sun in all it's brilliance. When I saw Him I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said",
"Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave".
Paul then goes on to receive the letters to the seven churches and continues in Revelation 4:1-6
"Then I looked, I saw a door open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said,
"Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this." And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones - like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their headds. From the throne came flashes of lightening and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
Chapter four goes on to describe more, as well as repeat the praises offered to God day after day and night after night. Chapter five brings Jesus, the Lamb in and he, being the only one worthy, takes the scroll.
This was all given after Christ died and was ressurected. Whether heaven looked the same before He came to Earth, I don't know. What I am offering is that you take what is written at this time and imagine what Jesus' existence may have been like before he made His journey to Earth.
Can we all imagine the beauty and majesty of His heavenly home? We can also believe in the thunderous voice of God and lightening as we also heard it described when Moses and the Israelites were at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Just imagine Jesus' home. A place that is filled with worship and joy. Where His power is unimaginable. Remember Him as being infinite, having no beginning and no end. Let your mind wander at what His home might have looked like.
Now imagine Him letting go of all that. Imagine Him taking his presence that is greater than the universe and shoving it into the womb as an earthly child. Imagine Him giving up His place of honor, His amazing surroundings, His power and might. Imagine Him letting go of His ability to know, see and do all things to be in a place He would be as a human. In our understanding of time, He gave up a lifetime of His true self to come to earth to live as we live. To dwell among us, to be Emmanuel.
Think of our glorious God loving us so much to deny who He is to become what He is not out of a love that we cannot begin to understand. Jesus knew what was to come before He came to earth. He knew what His path would entail and He knew what He would have to bear, yet He came as a sweet little baby ready to take on the worst the world had to offer.
Luke 2:6-14;
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in snuggly strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them "Don't be afraid!" He said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born this day in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven-praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." NLT
Jesus, Himself, was the first gift of Christmas. He gave so much that we might receive so much. The gift He gave of Himself cost more than we can begin to contemplate. It was and is the most priceless gift we can imagine.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul for He is the truth of what Christmas is all about.