Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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869. Why is the future hidden from man?
ALLAN KARDEC
"If man knew the future, he would neglect the present, and would not act with the same
freedom, because he would be swayed by the thought that, if such and such a thing is to
happen, there is no need to occupy one's self about it; or else he would seek to prevent it. God
has willed that it should not be thus, in order that each may concur in the accomplishment of
the designs of Providence, even of those which he would desire to thwart; and thus you,
yourselves, often prepare the way, without your knowing it, for the events that will occur in
the course of your life."
870. Since it is useful that the future should be hidden, why does God sometimes permit it to
be revealed?
"Because in such cases this foreknowledge, instead of hindering the accomplishment of the
thing that is to be, will facilitate it, by inducing the person to whom it is revealed to act in a
different way from that in which he would otherwise have acted. And, besides, it is often a
trial. The prospect of an event may awaken thoughts more or less virtuous. If a man becomes
aware, for instance, that he will succeed to an inheritance which he had not expected, he may
be tempted by a feeling of cupidity, by elation at the prospect of adding to his earthly
pleasures, by a desire for the death of him to whose fortune he will succeed, in order that he
may obtain possession of it more speedily; or, on the other hand, this prospect may awaken in
him only good and generous thoughts. If the prediction be not fulfilled, it is another trial, viz.,
that of the way in which he will bear the disappointment; but he will none the less have
acquired the merit or the blame of the good or bad thoughts awakened in him by his
expectation of the event predicted."
871. Since God knows everything, He knows whether a 'nun will or will not fail in a given
trial; where then is the use of this trial, since it can show God nothing that He does not
already know in regard to that man?
"You might as well ask why God did not create man accomplished, perfect (119); or why man
has to pass through childhood before arriving at adult age (379). The aim of trial is not to
enlighten God in regard to man's deserts, for God knows exactly what they are, but to leave to
man the entire responsibility of his conduct, since he is free to do or not to do. Man having
fret choice between good and evil, trial serves to bring him under the