If the Bible isn't true, then I'd have to face up to the cold and harsh reality of death. I'm not strong enough for that.
Many people find it possible to believe in god and an afterlife while simultaneously understanding that the bible is not supposed to be understood as literally true.
But even if you cannot do that (Thanks to the fundamentalist that got you sold into an either-I-believe-everything-in-the-bible-or-nothing-at-all frame of minde), consider that: I don't remember the time before I was born as having been particularly painfull for me (I had no functioning brain to feel anything). The time after I die will likely be just like that. There is no reason to fear death itself. What many of fear is the dying process (which may turn out to be painfull). Well, even if the bible turns out to be absolutely true, you will not be spared of that pain. So, no reason to want to believe a story that doesn't add up.
Edited by fallacycop, : got to fix them boxes