最后极限
但以理书五章1至9节
1伯沙撒王为他的一千大臣设摆盛筵，与这一千人对面饮酒。
2伯沙撒欢饮之间，吩咐人将他父（或译：祖；下同）尼布甲尼撒从耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金银器皿拿来，王与大臣、皇后、妃嫔好用这器皿饮酒。
3于是他们把耶路撒冷神殿库房中所掠的金器皿拿来，王和大臣、皇后、妃嫔就用这器皿饮酒。
4他们饮酒，赞美金、银、铜、铁、木、石所造的神。
5当时，忽有人的指头显出，在王宫与灯台相对的粉墙上写字。王看见写字的指头，
6就变了脸色，心意惊惶，腰骨好像脱节，双膝彼此相碰，
7大声吩咐将用法术的和迦勒底人并观兆的领进来，对巴比伦的哲士说，谁能读这文字，把讲解告诉我，他必身穿紫袍，项带金链，在我国中位列第三。
8于是王的一切哲士都进来，却不能读那文字，也不能把讲解告诉王。
9伯沙撒王就甚惊惶，脸色改变，他的大臣也都惊奇。
信息分享
宴会的场馆，是人手挖掘出来的宫廷巨型宴会厅，长度超逾五十米。巴比伦的一众要员，在王的邀请下，都齐来出席这个盛宴。
盛大的宴会
我们不能不知的是，伯沙撒王在这时举行此欢宴，实在是令人费解。因为波斯大军已经围困该城三个多月，但城中的政要，包括军中将领，竟然在这晚抛下一切，不理会敌人突袭的危险，来到宫廷欢宴狂饮，岂不是难以理喻？
当众人纵情狂饮至半夜，伯沙撒王半醉半醒，做了一件在正常情况下不会去做的事情。他命人把从耶路撒冷神殿掠来的圣杯拿来作酒杯，借此高举他们所信奉的诸神，是世上最伟大的神。
然而，他这个狂妄的举动大大触怒了全能的真神。神已经到了祂忍耐的极限，不能让他再继续胡作非为。神一直保持忍耐，但即使祂有长久忍耐，但此刻却已到了极限。
墙上的手指
突然有人发出尖叫声，他看见粉墙上有一只手移动，指头正在写字。然后所有人都看见了。到底是怎么回事？伯沙撒王更是大惊失色。他对自己所做的一切──不单是这一晚，还有他一生的所作所为──都已经心知肚明；如今，神要与他算账了。这天便是他的审判日。
古往今来的男男女女，终有一天都要站在全能的神面前，接受祂的审判。我们不是孤身站立，独自承担一切罪责；就是站在基督并祂的十字架下，得着祂宝血的遮盖和荫庇。你会怎样选择呢？这件事要你自己做决定，没有人可以代劳。
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Daniel 5:1-9
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5 In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
8 Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
Message
The huge hall of the palace has been excavated. It is over 50 metres in length. In it were gathered the leading lords of Babylon. They had come for an enormous banquet at the invitation of King Belshazzar.
THE FEAST
It was incredible that he had issued those invitations at that particular time. Over the last three months the Persian army had been besieging the city. But here were the city leaders and no doubt the army generals as well, spending the night drinking, while ignoring the danger without.
The evening passed by as more and more wine was drunk. Then Belshazzar did something he might never have done had he been sober. He called for the sacred cups brought from Jerusalem so that they could drink from them. He did it to show that their gods were the greatest in the world.
This was a challenge hurled in the face of the Almighty God. Belshazzar had reached the P.N.R. - the point of no return. God could not allow him to go on. God is marvellously patient but even His patience finally comes to an end.
THE FINGER
Suddenly there was a shriek. Someone saw a hand moving high up on a side wall. Someone was pointing! Now everyone saw it. What was it? Belshazzar was the most afraid of all. He knew what he had done, not merely during that night but all through his life. Now God was calling him to account. It was the Judgment Day.
Like Belshazzar, every man and woman on earth, everyone who has ever lived or will live, must ultimately stand before God.
Everyone has to stand there before the Almighty God, either alone or sheltered by Christ and His cross. Which way will it be for you? You alone can decide.