George Orwell's 1984 has risen again to be in the top of Amazon's best seller list, along with Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. What is disturbing about both is that the topical point of each is buried in the excitement of a movement. We cheer for the rise of populism against the socialist hammer in Orwell's governance with an anti hero named Winston Smith, while Rand's railroad tycoon rants against the selfishness of the conventional and murderous Orren Boyle.

Both appeal to the mystery of adventure and secrecy, while Rand and Orwell risk life and future to present the lead characters following their hearts at all costs. As I thrilled to the brassy young woman taking on her playboy brother, Winston's risk is just as heart stopping as he attempts to bring down the repressive govenment against betrayal and subterfuge.

Both novels betray one theme which following leftists and many on the right reject, with their philosophies at stake. Dagny and Winston are driven by a notion that self cleansing is completed by externally helping their fellow man by destroying the evil government. In truth, what each is searching is far more liberating, salvation at all costs. Both the heroine and the anti-hero see their worlds in only the contexts of their earthly perceptions and look no further. The question of their own mortality only briefly crosses their minds. God is in the winning alone.

But God has already spent all to bring salvation to mankind, wallowing in guilt, pain, and death. But mankind sees so many distractions from worldview to shiny toys, that he most often loses sight of his real meaning on earth, from the vastly tempting lies of Satan.

Lord, help us to see beyond the shiny things of life, to the one event which freed all of us from the death trap the devil disguised as chrome and color! Salvation at all costs!