In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives the definition of Elias (p. 585): "Prophecy; spiritual evidence opposed to material sense; Christian Science, with which can be discerned the spiritual fact of whatever the material senses behold; the basis of immortality."
Discernment of the spiritual fact extinguishes delusions of sickness and other discordant beliefs and makes free. Christ Jesus said (John 8:31, 32), "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Do we realize this power of spiritual discernment when confronted with errors known as physical and other discords? Do we approach the problem with sureness and confidence in victory? Are we keeping our work in the realm of certainty, and do we attack the error as simply an erroneous belief and thus destroy it? Paul says (Phil. 2:12, 13), "Work out your own salvation....For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Error may sometimes seem unyielding because we look for it afar off, or in others, rather than in our own misconception. Indifference and apathy are effective barriers to spiritual understanding, health, and freedom. There is no substitute for sincerity, individual diligence, and consecration. When the discordant condition, whatever its nature, has been reduced to its real status —a falsity—its unreality becomes increasingly apparent, its nothingness is established, and healing results.
