The halfbaked Bard

How do you know that you have grown in the Lord and have gained maturity? David was not even bothered after he committed the grievous sin of adultery and murder. Only when Nathan, the prophet specifically told him, you are the one, were his eyes opened. But to the fag end of his life, just after he took a census of his country to know how many capable warriors were there in his county, he feels remorseful. His conscience pricked immediately after he was self oriented and proud. Well! Not as serious a sin as the first one, right? But definitely conscious stricken. How did David change? He was more open to the Holy Spirit. He was more in tune with Him. That there need not be an elder to come and prick your conscious. But he was in line with God Himself, that he knew His standards and also knew where he himself stands. How are you? Have you grown in your standards or degraded yourself? Does your conscience prick you even if it is a small and silly mistake according to the worl...