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If a power-hungry individual were facing an imminent threat to their spiritual well-being, and a wise sage warned them, saying, “Warning: your true essence, which is your spiritual life, is in grave danger of dying,” would that person heed the warning?
Might these individuals resemble Anakin Skywalker from *Star Wars: Episode III*, as he spirals down an unholy path? In an emotional scene, Padmé states, “[crying] I don’t know you anymore! Anakin, you’re breaking my heart! You’re heading down a path I can’t follow!”
What is it about the allure of power and control that tempts some individuals to commit dishonest and dishonorable acts, inflict harm, and abuse others? This temptation transforms them into someone unrecognizable, unreasonable, unreachable, and unholy.
Prolonged sinful acts can turn one into the very acts they commit. For example, excessive lying turns a person into a liar, excessive cheating turns them into a cheater, and sexual abuse transforms them into an unholy predator-desecrater of the victim and the temple of the Holy Spirit.
This unholy transformation echoes the words of Jesus Christ, who said, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
Why do these individuals seem unaware of their spiritual decline? Isn’t it painful to live without love, imprisoned by sin, and trapped by the allure of power and material wealth?
Each time a cardinal sin is committed, the spirit dies slowly—and sometimes violently. How can someone transforming from an Anakin into a Darth Vader-like figure remain unaware of their fading spirit?
How can Anakin, in his unholy state, believe that destroying his spirit and condemning his soul to eternal death by harming others through destructive acts is more powerful or meaningful than the promise of eternal life?
How can the torment of hell, filled with anguish (Luke 16:23-24), and the separation from love and peace (Matthew 25:30) be viewed as more desirable?
The danger is clear, as are the warning signs of impending spiritual death.
Sins must be confessed, repented of, and atoned for to have any hope of redemption and, therefore, salvation.
It is essential to understand that only those with sufficient moral authority and holiness can grant absolution. If this authority is lacking, nothing holy will occur, and both parties may face greater negative consequences. Intercession is only possible within the redemption process.
A thorough redemption process must be in place to fully cleanse the spirit, allowing the possibility of salvation to be activated and realized.
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