John 1:5 offers a alternative idea. "The light shines in the darkness, and darkness can not overcome it." It could be translated: "The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it."
Reading into this, John suggests that there is a struggle. But it is not dualistic. There are not two equal forces vying for victory. This is not a battle waged in eternity. Darkness isn't really a worthy foe.
It's kind of like the Yankees versus the Cubs for the last 101 years (that is, if the Yankees represented light and the Cubs represented darkness- but obviously this analogy really breaks down because that is just not the case).
There is a struggle… but then again, there is not. Darkness may try to fight against light, but light always wins. Darkness may try to snuff out light, but light always shines. It may even appear that darkness has a grip on a situation… but light will always shine through. The dawn always breaks the nightfall. The light is always greater than the darkness. Light > darkness.
Creation in Genesis is an interesting backdrop here. There was this shroud of dark emptiness, a formless void of everything we now know as Creation. But the first reality is "in the beginning GOD…" The truth is that the Life and Light of God already existed. Darkness never really had a hold on anything at any point ever. God has always had the arm of strength. And even when darkness is around, the Spirit of God is still present. Genesis 1:2 says, "And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface."
Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
God loves breaking up darkness. God enjoys disrupting the continued plans of darkness. God fights with his WORD and his WORD overpowers the darkness. The Word of God gives light to everyone. In him is life. And even the darkness of sin and death can not overcome it. Light > darkness.