Do you judge how you are doing by how you started out?  What about how you are doing right now?  Have you strayed a bit but think that you are still doing pretty good compared to the other guy?  Be careful of allowing yourself too much rope.  This is a great example of how a person can start off very well, but end up going down the wrong road. Idolatry is very subtle, good things in our lives slowly become the ultimate thing.