Have you ever heard the phrase "do as you please". That's an interesting phrase isn't it. It means we have complete freedom to do whatever want. Whatever will benefit us, whatever will bring us the most pleasure, right?
These are uniquely human words - you never hear the phrase - "do as you please" come from the mouth of God; in fact the opposite is true - According to Col 3:10, we have an explicit command to live a life that conforms to the image of Jesus Christ.
As Christians we must stop seeking after pleasure to "do as we please" and rather do as the Lord wills! We see this going on in the life of Noah.
The story thus far - we are only six chapters into the Bible - Adam and Eve have made their mistakes, Cain and Abel have walked their paths, and then we read a geneology of man from Adam to v. 29 - the birth of Noah of whom it is said will bring rest from work.
So we have the account of Noah. The Bible tells us that Noah found favor in God's eyes.
The events that transpire in the life of Noah show us something very important about a "rebel" attitude.

To Do As You Please Is To Ensure The Loss of Pleasure.

Read 6:1-3.
What has happened to mankind over these many generations in Ch. 5. They have become self-seeking, self-pleasing, chasing after pleasure.
6:2 records "took wives, whomever they chose."
Tucked away in that simple phrase is such a devastating worldview. But we do that don't we? We go after pleasure - whatever we choose, not what God has designed for us.
All to often our standard is our own pleasure, not God's Will. When we do this we show a complete disregard for God in our lives.
The Bible tells us that Satan was once an archangel in heaven. But the first time Lucifer set "I will" above God's will, sin began.

Eve did not realize that to seek her own pleasure was to ensure the loss of the pleasure she had already found.
Today, we are defined as a nation of pleasure seekers. We work longer hours to make more money to seek more pleasure. The only problem is pleasure is addictive and at the same time insatiable. Every grasp of pleasure brings an even greater desire for more pleasure.

What happens if you leave a kid alone with a candy bowl? Ultimately you'll get a child with an upset stomach and an empty bowl.
Did you know that psychologist are the ones who have encouraged fast food restaurants to say "would you like to supersize that". Why? They know the pleasure part of our brains will answer for us. "Bigger must be better". But that's not the case.

We have to quit saying "what do I want with my life" and start saying, "what does God want to do in and through my life?"
What else do the people of Noah's day show us?

The Days of the Rebel Are Numbered, But the Days of the Righteous Are Without End

Look at what the Bible tells us immediately after they made the decision to do as they please. read 6:3.

God says there will be a definite end. To this generation He says 120 years.
To Belshazzar God said, "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
To King Saul God said, in effect, "Your kingdom is over and is given to a man after my own heart."
Scripture is very clear - 1) What we build will not last 2) Our very lives will not last.

Do remember how crazy it was in the months leading up to New Year's Eve 1999? Maybe you don't remember. Do you remember how the Post Office had countdown clocks. Standing in line was a big reminder of how every minute of every day counts.

Here is a sad truth - our days and our hours and minutes are numbered - only God know when our time is up.

But look at the picture of what happens to Noah. Noah knows God and because he has committed his life to Him he has found favor. As a result the whole earth was wiped away but Noah and his family were spared.

Now, Noah's mortal life ended and he went to heaven. But the picture of the flood is the picture of the lost and saved.

The lost will eventually be swept away from the earth and the righteous will live on forever, even though our mortal life will disappear we will live on forever in eternity.
What happens though? Even though we are aware of our mortality we find that the pleasure side of our brain is much more attractive.
Do not close the door on God today by giving into to doing as you please. Here is the last principle the people of Noah's day show us.

From time to time, we use coupons. But they always frustrate me. You have to buy a particular meal, or you have an expiration date, etc.
But I promise you there is nothing gimmicky about God's free offer of salvation. But here's the thing, there is an expiration date. It's the day you breathe your last breath. At that time His offer of grace becomes null and void. You choose not to accept the offer.
The people of Noah's day had made that choice and when the flood came and wiped them out (bad and good men, bad and good women, bad and good children) all had no excuse they missed God while they had the chance.
You know the people of Noah's day were given 120 years to call out to God and it never happened. But when the ark doors closed the offer was done.
Gen. 6:5 say mankind's thoughts were on evil all the time. As long as there is a spark of interest in God's heart the invitation continues but as soon as the person is through, God is through.
So what are you waiting for?