Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was below us. As the plane came about in preparation for landing, I looked down upon other familiar landmarks. There was the mighty Mississippi River with its two extravagant gambling riverboats, one on the Illinois side, the other on the Missouri. There were the Edward Jones Dome and historic Busch Stadium where bigger-than-life ballplayers amaze faithful throngs. And there was the unmistakable Gateway Arch — our nation’s tallest monument.

The Arch has been a part of the city’s skyline since it was completed in 1965. It stands a staggering 630 feet tall at its apex, more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.

Yet from my perspective above it, the Arch looked small — not much different from a croquet wicket among toy buildings.

It is routine today to look down upon landmarks of such stature. I have even looked down upon the Himalayas, the planet’s highest mountain chain.

Think of God’s perspective. Everything is small to Him. Everything, that is, except one of His smallest creations — man.

Each of us may feel small, only one among billions, a miniscule percentage of the world’s population. Our individual lives, our problems, our victories … all seem swallowed up by the vastness of humankind and the magnitude of international problems.

The land of Israel looms large in current events, as it has in history. Yet, the nation is tiny — about the size of Massachusetts. A French politician recently lamented the problems he said were caused by that "little country." This land and this people — though small in actual size — are precisely so important because they are God’s.

God’s people everywhere are the apple of His eye. Size is not important to God. To Him, your soul is not a croquet wicket. It stands taller than the Midwest’s towering Arch. Its value — your value — is immeasurable.

If you feel insignificant, remember this: You are exceedingly important to the One who matters most. God loves you — and He cares.

— Ken Horn

E-mail the author at pe@ag.org.