As a new year begins, some wonder about the future.

They are concerned about jobs, investments, family and a host of other things.

There is nothing wrong with thinking about such things, as long as they do not enslave us to them, to the point that they are all we think about. If we allow that to happen, we will not have a “happy new year.”

At the beginning of the year it is a good time to turn our mind and heart toward God. Yes, some believe it to be foolish to do so, but then some always have (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Jesus, in what is called the “Sermon on the Mount,” talked about this quandary that plagues mankind.

To those who seek to follow him, he said not to allow the thought of how to attain physical things such as food and raiment to control our lives, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

He used the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples. They do not work nor toil, but God takes care of them. And surely he will take care of his followers.

All need to understand that in 2013, God is still with us. He watches all we do and has unlimited power — power far beyond that of our nuclear bombs and other such weapons. He cares for mankind — he always has and always will.

God created all that is. He created a place for man to exist (Genesis 1: 1-24) and then said, “Let us make man ...” (Genesis 1:26).

Notice that God made sure man had air to breathe, food to eat, water to drink and ground on which to stand — then he created man. God knew his creation would need something to do, so man was placed in the “… garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

God provided the things man needed, even companionship, as man alone, God said, was not good. God started the first home with Adam and Eve; they were not alone, for God was there.

Later when sin entered the world by Adam and Eve disobeying God, they still were not alone, for God cared for them. Yes, they were punished and cast from the beautiful garden, death entering the world, but God still cared for them. God still cares for us.

Some believe that Christ was not able to accomplish the mission set out for him by his Father. This is far from the truth; he did exactly what he came to do.

He gave himself freely for the sins of mankind. God allowed his Son to be crucified, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:23, 24).

God was in the beginning, and always will be. He left his word with the instructions on how to receive the forgiveness of sin.

Man is to have faith (Hebrews 11:6) and to repent of our sins (Luke 13:3). We are to confess Jesus as being the Son of God, (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37), be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38) and then live a life of faithfulness to God (Revelation 2:10b).

Yes, God still cares for us today. Start the year out right, turn to God and obey his will.